Avery Bradley & our teenage son's death

[Kane3387]

I'm truly sorry for your loss. Thanks for sharing.

God Bless you and your family.

[33_Larry Legend_33]

I can't say thank you enough to the Celtics organization, Avery Bradley and CSNNE for what they've done for our family.  A couple weeks ago I received a note that Avery Bradley was leaving my wife and I tickets to Sunday's game in Orlando.  I would have been overwhelmed simply by this alone...  I will admit that I was a little nervous going to the will-call window to pick them up Sunday, wondering if this was even happening.  When we got the tickets, they were left there for us by Avery Bradley - and he also gave us a post-game guest pass to meet him.  And Kristi and I did...  Let me say this: Avery is one of the nicest, polite, sweetest gentleman I've ever met.  He was with us for 15 minutes afterward and we all just felt at ease with each other.  We each got pics on our phones - I was stunned he wanted one for himself.  I gave him a letter of thanks and some bracelets that were given out for Jaret's memorial service.  I've already heard back that Avery loves it, and is wearing it.  Maybe he will tonight - it's a blue & white bracelet with #LL4JHARSH on it.  But again - what a nice person, and what he means to us, and what we've been told we mean to him - it's just humbling.  I didn't expect anything - and yet this organization has shown so much love to our family.

During the game I got a text from Chris Mannix - honestly, I thought it was a joke.  He wanted to meet my wife and I.  When we found each other during the game, and waved - he wanted us to meet him in the 3rd quarter - and hence the interview.  Funny, but Jaret would have been blown away that Mike Gorman said his name as he loves Mike!

We talked with Chris for 15 minutes - such a polite and nice person.  We didn't do the interview for attention, as I'm not much of a fan of being in the spotlight.  But they really wanted us to do so.  We also got to meet Mark Murphy and Adam Himmelsbach of the Boston papers, and they also wanted to talk with us.

During the game I got a few texts that the Celtics had passed along our story to Emily Austen, who now works for Fox Sports South, and does the local Orlando games as a sideline announcer.  She did a segment on our son's death that was very well done.

So let me just say - WOW!!!  A night that overwhelmed us and one my wife and I will never forget...

http://www.csnne.com/boston-celtics/avery-bradley-reaches-out-family-lost-their-15-year-old-son

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10204673886921744&set=a.1315214815113.38610.1672997511&type=3&theater

https://www.facebook.com/100007188017455/videos/1677305782519006/?pnref=story

[saltlover]

I heard about this story during the telecast from Orlando, and remembered your story from earlier.  Avery Bradley sounds like a truly stand-up human being, as does everyone you've come into contact with from the C's organization.  My thoughts are with you and your family in your continued healing.

[jbpats]

I heard about this story in a recent article. I am truly sorry for your loss, it must have taken a lot to write the OP and I appreciate you sharing with our Celtics community.
My thoughts and prayers are with your son and your family during this tough time.

[crimcartel]

Sorry for your loss and I am glad the Celtics and Avery Bradley reached out to you in a time of need. I do not know Avery Bradley personally but he comes off as a great kid. He actually lives in the same complex as my mother and I ran into him a few times in the elevator. Seems just as quiet as he does on the court. No one was bothering or bugging him for autographs either so glad he gets his privacy. This is a good ending to a tragic story.

[aingeforthree]

Even though it hurts to no end, Families are forever.  You will see your son again.  Thanks for sharing your story with the world.

One Love.

[33_Larry Legend_33]

One last article I wanted to link.  For anyone interested - I did a phone interview with Jay King (MassLive).  This is an incredibly written piece, and I can't thank Jay enough.  Our son will always be special to us, and the concern that Avery Bradley has shown our family is simply amazing to us.  This story captures the entirety of it.

http://www.masslive.com/celtics/index.ssf/2016/02/boston_celtics_avery_bradley_j.html

If you haven't, give Jay a follow on Twitter @ByJayKing