[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 78 (Tuesday, May 17, 2016)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E715]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         TAMMY BANFIELD'S STORY

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                          HON. FRANK C. GUINTA

                            of new hampshire

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, May 17, 2016

  Mr. GUINTA. Mr. Speaker, on August 17th, 2015 Tammy Banfield was on 
her way out the door with her 2 year old daughter when she heard a 
knock on the door that would change their lives forever. Brien, her 
partner and father to their daughter Kendal, was in the ICU. On August 
23, 2015 he was pronounced dead at 38 years old. Brien was a hard 
worker, a brother, a friend, a partner, and most importantly the father 
to three amazing girls. He was someone who put others before himself 
and lent a helping hand whenever possible. Brien struggled with 
depression, anxiety and an addiction that started at the age of 8. 
Despite his problems, he always made time for his family. From singing 
the ABC's to their daughter to cooking her dinner and changing her 
diapers, Brien always put his family first. Kendal, to this day, still 
speaks lovingly of her father. Tammy wants no one else to go through 
her family's trouble and she has seen firsthand that it is possible to 
recover from addiction. Tammy has two brothers who were able to recover 
from the treatment and an ongoing, consistent support team. Each 
individual's support team looks different; for some it is groups like 
AA, NA and the up-and-coming HA, while others rely on family and 
friends who have recovered. None of these options are possible without 
the ability to first seek and receive comprehensive, quality treatment.

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