“My Daughter Died Laughing:” Grieving Mom Warns Parents After 14-Year-Old Daughter Dies of Helium Inhalation

I was also able to publish a couple books, one of which is titled The Air Inside, which teaches elementary-aged kids how to be safe around helium and helium balloons. The other book is Ashley’s personal story, including her life and tragic accident with Helium. I titled this book My Daughter Died Laughing.

Raising awareness about Helium inhalation has given me strength and something positive to focus on in memory of my daughter Ashley. I truly believe it’s important to find a way to honor and remember our loved ones in the most positive and productive ways possible. Each and everyone of our lives are important and we all have a purpose. I believe this is Ashley’s purpose.

Before I go, I’d like to leave you with this. A poem written by my daughter Ashley in eighth grade.

Your Life Matters To Me:

Waking up in the morning feeling like you’re worth nothing

People don’t hear the voice inside you screaming out real loud

You hold it in, afraid to let it out

So you just sit back and let it tear up your world

BUT there is something you need to know about your own life

That it matters to me

Just like any other day

Life may take you down sometimes, but you’ll always have me by your side to bring you back up

Wipe away your tears and tell yourself you’re stronger than you think you are

Don’t let those words bring you down this far

My life would never be the same without you around

I JUST WANT YOU TO SEE YOUR LIFE MATTERS TO ME

Just because you’re different doesn’t mean you’re strange

Don’t give up everything you have over the words they say

You know they’re not true

Don’t let it get to you 

Because YOUR LIFE MATTERS

Just like any other day, life may take you down sometimes

But you’ll always have me by your side to pick you back up

Wipe away those tears and tell you you’re stronger than you think you are

Don’t let words bring you down this far

People can change

I just wanted you to see

IT MATTERS… LIFE MATTERS

IT MATTERS TO ME 

Thank you Ashley for this poem. I will live by this the rest of my life, because your life matters to me. Thank you from the bottom of my broken heart.

**This story was written by Lori Earp, author of My Daughter Died Laughing and The Air Inside. Follow her journey on Facebook.