Max

I don't even know how to fit this post in to just regular daily life. It seems so unreal to me. I don't know how we should keep on with our regular life when such tragedy has struck. Its taken me a couple of days to gather my thoughts...but I did want to share.

I know I've posted before about a close friend of ours that has a sweet little boy named Max. You may remember me mentioning fundraisers or playdates or other things. He was born 3 days after Brenna in the same hospital. We were literally leaving the hospital as Veronica was checking in to have Max. His sister, Holly, is Brooke's age and they have been friends for a while too.

Max was diagnosed with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy early on. However, Max has thus far been pretty healthy! He hadn't yet started to exhibit any too noticeable 'symptoms' or anything yet. Though the long term prognosis with Duchenne MD was not good, he was doing well as a young active preschooler.

Well, on Friday night, we received the terrible news that Max had passed away, suddenly and unexpectedly. They aren't sure yet the cause, ....he only had a fever at school that day and at the doctor, they believed he had was maybe getting the flu. He was sent home at that point and died just a few hours later.

So, this is obviously a great shock to their family and to all of their friends. I am so saddened by the loss of this sweet sweet little boy. I saw him most recently at a birthday party, where he and Brenna were playing with a bracelet together. (Its weird the things you remember.) I photographed him a few times and remember his favorite 'game' was to give me high fives as hard as he could. I feel like I can still feel his tiny hand give me the hard slap on my hand and I can still hear him laugh hysterically after I pretend how it scares me every time. It still doesn't seem real to me that this little angel is gone. At random moments, I'll just break down and start crying, in such pain for this family. For Holly, who no longer has a brother. For Veronica and James, who now have to try to plan a funeral for their 3 year old son. No parent should ever have to do that.

All this to say... if you could please add James and Veronica and Holly to your list of prayers. They need them extra strong right now. And will need them as time goes on and others go about their daily lives and they still struggle with an empty room, Christmas presents under the tree for a little boy who is no longer here, toys and clothes and the emptiness that is filled in their hearts. Please please pray for them.

In lieu of flowers, the family is asking that donations be made to the organization that they chose to support through Max's life, Parent Project Muscular Dystrophy. So if you feel so led to do so, please consider donating in Max's memory. I know the family will appreciate it.