MADEOFCLAY
The perfect word to describe Clay is...clay. He was a beautiful vessel that changed shape and poured life into all those who knew him. He had many different forms. He had a contagious smile. He loved the Lord, his family, friends, animals, sports, music, and movies. He was an amazing athlete whose focus was baseball, which explains why his favorite movie was The Sandlot. Clay‘s pastor described him best by saying, “Clay would give you the shirt off his back, and if you were an animal, he would give you more.” A million wonderful things can be said about Clay but to sum it up...Clay was clay. 

Clay was also incredibly strong in his fight against a disease that is extremely misunderstood. Many do not understand why or how others become addicted to drugs/alcohol. Unfortunately, there is a misconception that a person struggles with addiction due to a lack of morals or will to stop. This way of thinking is harmful and prevents many from asking for help. Addiction is a complex disease that impacts the brain. The brain can be affected by disease just like any other organ. However, diseases of the brain are different because they can alter behavior. Research is key in discovering not only how addiction affects the brain, but also in finding treatments that can help.