“Despite the fact that every breath and every moment is painful at this stage, in her honor we will try to keep living our lives with the same altitude she lived hers,” wrote Alain Champagne. A Canadian CEO is mourning the death of his daughter, who committed suicide after being diagnosed with Lyme disease.
Alain Champagne, President and CEO of Le Groupe Maurice, announced on LinkedIn that his daughter Amelie “took her own life.” She was 22 years old.
“To my LinkedIn community … while I never do personal posts, I wanted to share this … It is with the heaviest of hearts (and still in shock) that I share the tragic news that our sweetheart Amelie (22) took her own life this past Sunday,” Alain wrote earlier this month.
He added that although “Every day is extremely difficult but Joanne, Mathieu (19), and I are leaning on each other along with her boyfriend Nic.” Opening up about the health issues his daughter had faced, the executive continued, “We were witnesses as to how challenging life had become for her in dealing with the evolving Lyme disease symptoms.”
According to the Independent, after years of trying to find a diagnosis for Amelie, they finally got a positive test in America this past June, but it was too late, according to the heartbroken father, and the disease had already taken its toll.
“Over time and despite the recent treatments, the disease had evolved way beyond the numerous physical symptoms and was now severely impacting her brain),” he wrote.
He shared that the disease had “hijacked” his daughter whom he described as being “so courageous” in her fight.
“We are confident she is now in peace and that her spirit is shining brightly upon the large number of people she touched over her short stay with us.”
Speaking about her loving personality, Alain said Amelie “left a long-lasting impression through her engaging and empathetic personality.”
Despite her difficulties, Amelie “persevered” through college, worked at a facility for disabled children, and started volunteering at a local homeless shelter “and remained ever the vibrant/fun-loving friend and member of our family.”
The mourning father went on to praise Amelie’s “resilience and continued optimism she displayed while dealing with the ever-increasing symptoms was and remains my main source of inspiration.”
“Despite the fact that every breath and every moment is painful at this stage, in her honor we will try to keep living our lives at the same altitude she lived hers.”
Continued Alain: “A long road lies in front of us (every day)…We are hopeful [that] Amelie is now in a position to help guide and support us through it.”
He concluded by sending a message to Amelie, writing, “We will love you forever, and cherish every memory of our wonderful time together. You made us all better people. It’s now up to us to rise up to the challenge… Take care everyone.” He signed the post by her family and boyfriend.