Three and a half years ago, Michelle Kullmann received a phone that is every parent’s nightmare. She was informed that her son, a freshman at UW-Milwaukee, had overdosed and died. 

His death sparked an advocacy campaign, raising awareness of fentanyl deadliness and its prevalence, to prevent other deaths, Michelle told the Waunakee Rotary Club at its May 8 meeting. 

Michelle’s son Cade Reddington had been out with friends at a bar when he purchased what he thought was a percocet pill from a dealer he found on Snapchat, she said. When he got back to his dorm room, he told a friend that he had taken the pill and he was feeling “yucky.” He then fell asleep in a beanbag chair in a common room he shared with roommates. 

None of his fellow students knew the signs of an overdose, nor was Narcan available in the dorm.

That was 2021, and no one was talking about fentanyl although it was the leading cause of death for people ages 18-49, Michelle said. 

Michelle found it difficult to believe he’d overdosed. She was unaware he had used opioids. She knew he had experimented with marijuana, and drank alcohol, but after an incident, he lost his eligibility to wrestle and got sober to earn that back, she said.

Michelle showed a video of Cade living life to its fullest – diving from cliffs, skateboarding and enjoying his friends. One friend captured him on video saying, “Guys, life is short. But be happy, work hard and make your people happy.”

“It was amazing what a bright light he was and how much energy he had,” she said. 

The fentanyl epidemic in the United States followed the opioid crisis, when physicians were overprescribing the over-the-counter painkiller and then began to stop. 

When people addicted to prescription opioids could no longer find those pills, drug cartels stepped in by supplying fentanyl, a drug 50% more addictive than heroin, Michelle said. It can also come in a pill and is easily accessible through dealers on Snapchat. 

Families across the United States were losing their children, and Michelle began to find others on social media. After Cade’s death, she learned about a Drug Enforcement Administration Campaign, “One Pill Can Kill.”

She began to reach out to news media outlets, and through a Facebook group, found a friend whose child had died as well. They advocated to have Narcan placed in all UW campus dorms, and Tommy Thompson, the acting UW president at the time, agreed. 

Recently, Narcan was used to save a life at one of the dorms, Michelle said. She suggested everyone consider having Narcan available, noting it’s just a nasal spray. Had Cade’s roommates known the signs of overdose and had Narcan available, Cade could still be alive today.

Michelle also helped organize the Waunakee Wings project, the mural on the WanaBike building, giving other Waunakee community members a chance to commemorate loved ones who have died too soon. A party at the unveiling brought many in the community together. 

“It was an amazing street party with the Project Brave Band playing,” Michelle said. 

To fill the need for mental health professionals, Michelle now has a website, Cade’sLight, in her son’s honor with a scholarship fund for students who want to pursue a degree in psychology. 

The former editor of Brava magazine and then owner of Play It Again sports, Michelle took yoga training and is now certified. She leads grief yoga classes and will offer these at the Village Center and Senior Center. 

Michelle envisions that after her passing, she will join Cade in heaven, and he will show her all of the lives they have saved together. 

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Other News:
-The club inducted Matt Harward as a member. Congratulations, Matt!

-Be sure to like the new Waunakee Rotary Facebook page. Just search for Waunakee Rotary Club on Facebook. 

-Rotary will help with the Waunakee Police Department’s National Night Out Aug. 6, cooking brats and hot dogs and showing off the K-9 rescue van, President Phil Willlems said. 

-The Kentucky Derby Party was a big success with a hat contest and prizes from local businesses. Thanks to Bob Klostermann for his work on this, along with Andrew Hovde for providing the Lamphouse Apartments community room for the space. 

-Tri4Kids triathlon is coming up and volunteers are needed. 

Visiting Rotarians: None

Guests: Speakers Michelle Kullmann and Gloria Kullmann.

Birthdays: May 15, Mick Holm

Anniversaries: May 16, David and Connie Rupp; May 17, Nick and Elaine Mischler

What’s for Lunch: May 15, lasagna with bread.

Greeters: May 15, Chris Zellner and Todd Schmidt; May 22, Peggy Acker Farber and Mark McFarland; May 29, Tom Kennedy and Dave Kennedy; June 5, Leah Abeyta and ???

Programs: May 15, Create Waunakee Inc. and Especially Stroopwafel; May 22, Exchange students’ presentations; May 29, Club Assembly

To sign up to greet or to find out if you are greeting, visit: 

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/805054CAAAA2CA7F85-44320149-2023#/