“It really sends the message that 22 kids aged 14 to 18 a week are dying of fentanyl poisoning,” Jane Gray said.
FLOWER MOUND, Texas — The parents of a teenage girl who struggled with drug addiction are using a Christmas Tree to spread awareness about the fentanyl crisis in North Texas.
They put up a purple tree in Flower Mound in the 4500 block of Amy Lane. The tree has been stopping passersby in their tracks, drawing attention to a heartfelt memorial for 19-year-old Nicole Marie Gray.
Nicole’s parents, Jane Gray and Greg Cruz created the memorial to honor their daughter, who struggled with mental health challenges and addiction that ultimately led to her death.
“She had a very happy heart to the outside world, just an internal struggle on the inside,” said Jane Gray. “Loved art. Loved drawing.”
“Loved family, she loved taking pictures, and not just of herself” added Greg Cruz. “She wanted her own camera.”
A photo of Nicole displayed by the tree tells her story — a life full of love and creativity overshadowed by the battle against addiction according to her family. They believe the pain from her mental health struggles just became overwhelming.
“That is when she started numbing some of her pain through addiction, and that addiction just evolved to Percocet, and finally fentanyl,” Jane Gray explained.
The memorial is more than a tribute. Nicole’s parents invite others to leave messages for their loved ones who have struggled with addiction on ornaments to hang on the tree. Sidewalk art and butterfly imagery, a symbol of Nicole’s love for butterflies, are also part of the display.
“You see the butterflies. But if you look closely, it’s starting with the caterpillar,” Jane Gray said.
The butterflies represent the transformation and growth Nicole had in her life. So, both parents now wear butterfly tattoos in her honor. They are inspired by a photo of her holding a butterfly captured during the happier times in her life. They’ve also taken their message beyond the tree, sharing Nicole’s Photo on a Fort Worth billboard aimed at raising awareness about the dangers of fentanyl.
“It really sends the message that 22 kids aged 14 to 18 a week are dying of fentanyl poisoning,” Jane Gray emphasized.
The purple tree, now a place of remembrance and activism, will return each year, carrying the heartfelt messages of others who’ve faced similar losses.
Through their efforts, Nicole’s family hopes to save lives and prevent other parents from enduring the same heartbreak.