Alexia Rian Foundation

About Us

Family is the one thing that we can not choose. On April 12, 2020, we received a phone call that would forever change our family. Family is the basis in which the foundation was created and we believe that with the voice of "The Village" we can be successful together. Imagine creating a world without stigma, making mental health and substance use a conversation at the dinner table, and changing the laws to advocate for the victims. The Alexia Rian Foundation wants to be a part of your family, Join Us to help advocate, raise awareness, and reduce the stigma.

Mission:

Raise Awareness and Reduce Stigma of Mental Health and Substance Use.

Vision:

All youth receive equal care and opportunities whom are diagnosed with Mental Health or Substance Use disorder.

Goal:

Create and/or develop avenues that youth and families can work together, start conversation and reduce stigma around Mental Health and Substance Use disorders.

Alexia Rian

Forever 17

~Her Story Through Her Families Eyes~

Definitely her eyes, fell in love with her the first time I saw her. I remember her tag and not wanting her to get it taken off because it made her special. I still have her flat Stanley letters from my last Iraq deployment and how happy it made me to know she would get it back, and that it came from her. Her scary movie addiction and her and Jesse talking about the juggernaut and 13 ghosts. She shared lots of stuff and was always inquisitive about bugs and birds. ~Uncle Joe~

Her big blue eyes and her strong spirit, she hated car seats, no patience until we had a talk about it, I got to go to kindergarten to read a book to her class with her setting proudly by my side, how excited she got when I got to pick her up from day care, her first steps when she started walking, her mama had to work but we called and told her all about it Her and Atalie, peanut butter Jelly from the day they were born, fighting over binkies hugging loving each other as sisters not cousins, very first playing in a mud puddle Ally was 3. ~Grandma Angie~

0 - 5 years old

At 2 years old Alexia was a huge fan of Shrek and playing kick ball! The memory that stands out most is she told me she swallowed a coin and I got one of each and asked her to show me which one, she pointed at the nickel and off to the ER we went. They x-rayed and found no coin. The doctor asked her where it was, and she said behind my bones. Shortly after this picture she cut her own hair for the first time, and I cried. Her love for animals really started showing during this time. We adopted a Guinea pig named Odie her first pet and she was adamant about bringing him with us in the car until he peed on her. ~Mother~

Loved swimming in Eldon and going to the park and the ice cream parlor in Eldon MO. Racing Kye to the stop sign and back and got mad when he grew enough to beat her there, McDonald's every morning before school when she stayed with me Sausage Cheese Biscuit Hash Browns and a Sprite painted my kitchen wall pink one night lol helping me cook tacos was her favorite to do always into or doing something. ~Grandma Angie~

5 - 10 years old

Age 6 Alexia loved Hannah Montana wanted everything if it had her picture. She started making up dances and performing at this age. My favorite memory at this age was Mother’s Day at school I watched her read out loud to the entire class of parents and I was incredibly proud! ~Mother~

I moved from Eldon to Osage Beach and she looked me dead in the eye and said gramma I'm proud of you, you did it on your own a little girl saying this to her gramma she was always so grown for her age and her words were so wise at times going to softball and volleyball games she played hard the times I was able to go Ally was loving and never asked for much I moved back to Kirksville when Ally was 11 or 12 and this tore both of us up Whew, this is going to be a hard one Ally moved to Kirksville with me for a fresh start 15, tried to get her to pick corn after the 3rd ear she was done it was too hard and to hot she didn't care for the farm life at all. ~Grandma Angie~

10 - 15 years old

Alexia developed a big love for art and reading at this age. You could either find her painting a new painting, my favorite is a cat that she painted that hangs in grandmas living room or reading one of the books from the Harry Potter series. At this age Alexia also decided she wanted to be an author and wrote many great short stories. Around 14 she started writing poetry and her poetry would easily move one to tears. I will never forget taking Alexia to get her permit, it was such a fun day and I let her drive me for the first time I was terrified but so proud of her. I was not exactly sure why but around 13 Alexia had taken some medication that was not hers and we quickly found out she was struggling mentally. Started having self-image issues, we started medication, but it was up and down for the next 4 years. ~Mother~

16 years old

Alexia was figuring out who she was at this point and was becoming a very caring individual. She was battling addiction, so she really had a strong want to help struggling addicts. Another great memory I have is taking Alexia to get her license I had just gotten a new car and I had not had time to take her to practice in it and she could not practice that day because we had her little brother in the car. She jumped in the driver seat as we parked in the parking lot at the exam building, I showed her how to adjust the mirrors and how to work the heater and defrost and how to dim the lights. I knew she was not going to pass, there was no way she did not know the car. She came back in that building with the biggest smile. She passed! Alexia got her first car a gray Pontiac G6, and she absolutely loved it. She got her first real job as a waitress, and she quickly learned that kind of work was not for her. We went to the ocean that year a memory I will cherish for the rest of my life. The first time I got to watch my girl put her feet in the ocean. ~Mother~

Ally and I moved to Kirksville she continued in school and ran a lot as a teenager does, she got her license in Osage Beach with her mom and the first time I let her drive my car with me in it scared the crop out of me and all she said was gramma chill. Always came home from school looking for fudge rounds and chocolate milk picking stray cats up off the street and bringing them in was always looking out for everyone else " friends", started dating and I didn't like it but hey, that's what kids do, they try to figure out who they are is what she told me the best day I remember is when Tab brought her to me in Columbia and the smile the hug and the happy tears her and I shared that day on the way back from Columbia ~Grandma Angie~

17 years old

I did not get to spend a lot of time with Alexia the last year of her life. She was always busy with friends but she always, always, made time to make sure no matter what to tell me goodnight I love you mom. I worried a lot this year. I kept convincing myself she was ok just figuring things out. This last Christmas we spent together was extra special for me, she took her little brother to target, and they picked out a necklace that is now one of my most prized pieces. Shortly after Christmas I took her to her first Chiefs game, and it was so cold but we loved every minute of it. I know Alexia did not want to die. She was terrified of getting COVID. Through all her struggles with mental illness and addiction my daughter was so strong. Strong enough to battle these things and still graduate high school 4 months early. She never made it to graduation or to see her diploma, but I have it. I miss my daughter the girl who had become my best friend. ~Mother~

She finished school early so she had time to relax and have fun but she got involved with some bad people no matter how hard I tried I couldn't get her to see how bad they really are Ally being 17 was hard for me she didn't stay home much I missed her being here but did pop in for fudge rounds and chocolate milk or wash clothes or take a shower she said Gramma I'm just trying to figure out who I am those Wise Words, knowing Ally and being her grandma will forever be a blessing our good times our bad times forever loved. Ally has always had a strong spirit a giving heart and never asked for much if only I had that one wish that could come true. ~Grandma Angie~

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