To raise awareness and honor Ali, it is important to understand that her experience with mental illness was sudden, brief, and severe. For all of her life except the last five months, Ali lived fully, spreading love and light into the world. Her presence was a bright beacon, touching lives and making a positive impact wherever she went.

In March 2023, our family visited her in Big Sky, and Ali was the same warm, cheerful, luminous spirit we knew and loved. Just one month later, in April 2023, she experienced a sudden manic episode and was diagnosed with bipolar I disorder with psychotic features. From that day forward, the illness changed how Ali felt and experienced the world.

Bipolar disorder can run in families, and at 23, Ali was within the typical age range for its onset. Before this episode, she had no history of mental health concerns that we recognized. Her story shows how unpredictable and serious mental illness can be.

Ali faced these challenges with incredible courage and strength. In October 2023, Ali died by suicide. The illness had taken away her ability to feel joy and connection, and the pain she carried inside was overwhelming. Mental illness is real, and Ali would want us to come together to end the stigma and shame that keep so many people from speaking up and reaching out.

In her final weeks, Ali wrote a message to her friends and family because it broke her heart that she couldn’t connect with them the way she wanted to. That was so Ali. She cared deeply about her family and treasured her friendships. She wanted to share her light and love, and she felt it had disappeared forever. The illness was distorting her thinking; her light was always there.

This was Ali’s message:

“Hello friends, I haven’t known how to make this post but I feel as though it’s necessary. I’ve been struggling every day now for the past 5 months.

It is scary, and unfair how quickly life can change.

As some of you may remember, I had a manic episode in April that came out of nowhere along with a bipolar 1 diagnosis. I have never known much about mental illness and I never knew it could be something that could spring onto you one day with no warning.

What I’m experiencing right now is by far the most challenging thing I’ve ever had to endure.

I’m dealing with something called anhedonia which is the inability to feel joy, pleasure, love, comfort, and any other feel-good emotion, along with poverty of speech, flat affect (almost nonexistent expression of emotion), and severe depression, and to be honest that isn’t even close to all I'm experiencing on a daily basis. This all may not sound like a big deal to most but it has been completely debilitating in every aspect of my life and truly unexplainable unless you go through it yourself.

I’m not sure why I feel the need to share this with all of you and I’m sure only a few will read this but the unfortunate truth is that my life will never be the same. Socializing is hard. Every day is hard and very painful. Know that I love you all and am trying my best.”

Ali gave it her all. Every day brought a new effort: keeping gratitude journals, taking long walks, biking, visiting the beach, picking fruit at local farms, or eating ice cream while watching the sunset. Alongside these, she worked with therapists, tried numerous medications, and received medical care. Despite Ali’s tireless efforts and our steadfast support, the treatments she tried did not bring her relief. Her experience is not everyone’s experience. Treatment helps many people, and recovery is possible.

Our most heartfelt request is that everyone take a moment to check in with themselves and the people they love. Depression is more than feeling sad. Sadness is a natural emotion, especially after a loss like this one, but depression and other mental illnesses are health conditions, not weaknesses or choices. Let’s choose kindness, even when we don’t understand why someone is struggling. Let’s choose love, encouraging words, and lifting one another up. To truly honor Ali, let’s live our lives to the fullest.

We know that Ali is watching over us all, sharing her radiant smile from above, cheering us on, guiding us forward, and carrying out vital celestial duties.

In Ali, we found not just a freestyle skiing enthusiast, but a beacon of light and an embodiment of the beauty of genuine human connection. Her spirit will forever inspire us to live life to the fullest, to face our challenges with grace, to embrace our passions with unwavering dedication, and to hold dear the bonds of family and friendship that make life truly meaningful.

Ali’s light continues to shine in the lives she touched and the hearts she warmed. She is deeply missed and lovingly remembered by all who had the privilege of knowing her.

If you or someone you love is struggling, you are not alone. Call or text 988 to reach the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, available 24 hours a day.