General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsI have some tragic news to report.
Five years ago I told the story of Liam to DU and received all kinds of love and support from the community here, sadly I am going to have to ask for your support once again.
Liam passed away over the weekend at the age of five.
I can't even begin to describe the pain the family is going through right now. Liam was like a son to me, he lived with me for a year and I played a major role in helping to raise him. Liam and his mother moved out a few years ago but we have remained not just friends but family. I have continued to care for Liam, he was literally the most important person in the world to me and I can't even imagine what life is going to be like without him.
Liam lived a challenging life but he managed to stay happy through most of it despite the enormous obstacles he faced. Liam was only six weeks old when he suffered a traumatic brain injury at the hands of an abusive "father". Liam nearly died when he was an infant, but he managed to hang in there and he made a pretty miraculous recovery. His brain injury prevented him from ever learning how to walk or talk, but it did not prevent him from showing everybody how much he loved them. Liam was filled with laughter and smiles, he loved to give kisses, and while he never learned to talk he did learn to hum along with songs and he sang to us regularly.
Last year Liam's little sister Autumn was born and as she started to learn new things he would follow suit. Once she learned to stand he started to stand up on his own, Autumn was helping to teach him new things in a way no adult could ever do and we were totally thrilled with the progress he was making.
Everything seemed fine, and then Friday night he went to bed and he never woke up again the next morning.
The medical examiners have not completed their report yet so I can't say anything about the cause of death, but I am convinced that it is related to the brain injury that Liam suffered as an infant. There is a possibility that murder charges could be filed against the monster that assaulted him but we have to be able to prove that the death was related to the brain injury so charges will be dependent on how conclusive the medical examiner's report is.
No matter what happens however, the loss of Liam has had a devastating impact on Liam's mother and his new father Brandon, a person who has shown Liam an enormous amount of love ever since he came into his life. Brandon served as a Personal Care Assistant for Liam and a very large chunk of the family income came from the PCA hours that he received. Not only has the family lost a child, but they lost half their income as well and are now trying to figure out how they will be able to keep their home.
I have never asked for donations on DU before but this time I need help. If anyone can afford to donate please follow the link to the GoFundMe page I have provided below. I understand that many people can't afford a donation themselves, but if you could please share the link with anyone who might be able to help it would be very much appreciated.
Thank you all in advance for your support during this very difficult time.
http://www.gofundme.com/x5wvbc9s
marym625
(17,997 posts)I'm sorry i can't give anything. I'm so sorry for your loss.
BeyondGeography
(39,276 posts)Thank you for sharing his story with us.
CaliforniaPeggy
(149,296 posts)polly7
(20,582 posts)What a beautiful little boy.
It sounds like he brought so much joy to your lives, I hope, in time, those good memories can lessen some of the pain.
Deepest condolences to his mother and new father, you, and everyone who knew and loved him.
R.I.P. little Liam.
joeybee12
(56,177 posts)herding cats
(19,549 posts)He had a life of both tragedy and joy it sounds like. At least if he had to pass, he did it peacefully in his sleep. The poor little baby!
I'm sharing your link.
Bjorn Against
(12,041 posts)bluesbassman
(19,309 posts)vankuria
(901 posts)he was a beautiful little boy and you can see his wonderful spirit in that big smile. May his spirit live on and his memory always be a blessing.
question everything
(47,263 posts)will poor Autumn ever remember how she helped her brother?
My deepest condolences to you and to the family.
rocktivity
(44,555 posts)heaven05
(18,124 posts)may he be with angels God, more sadness. This veil of tears!!! May you and your friend find peace, hopefully....
calimary
(80,693 posts)How could anyone be physically abusive to that? Or to ANY child? ANY abuse, for that matter.
etherealtruth
(22,165 posts)Aerows
(39,961 posts)I never know what to say when tragedy hits someone.
All I can do is this:
brer cat
(24,401 posts)My deepest sympathy to you and his family, Bjorn Again.
passiveporcupine
(8,175 posts)Lifelong Protester
(8,421 posts)barbtries
(28,702 posts)so sorry for your loss.
democrank
(11,052 posts)So sorry, Bjorn.
catbyte
(34,166 posts)I'll do what I can & I will certainly keep you and Liam's family in my thoughts. What a tragedy.
MoonRiver
(36,926 posts)RIP sweet baby Liam
alfredo
(60,065 posts)Blue_In_AK
(46,436 posts)My sincerest condolences.
Flatulo
(5,005 posts)Starry Messenger
(32,342 posts)No words. Love and peace to the family of Liam. xo
Enthusiast
(50,983 posts)BeanMusical
(4,389 posts)840high
(17,196 posts)whathehell
(28,968 posts)Rest in peace, little one.
elehhhhna
(32,076 posts)What a fine boy.
My heart breaks for you all.
onecaliberal
(32,471 posts)Bjorn Against
(12,041 posts)Bjorn Against
(12,041 posts)Sorry I am not able to respond to everyone personally right now, things are extremely hectic. I want to say however that just in the last hour we raised $1000 which will cover the next months rent. Thank you so much to everyone who has chipped in, to the $500 anonymous donor if you are reading this thank you so much.
I will update everyone later, thank you all for the support.
hifiguy
(33,688 posts)I hope the individual responsible for hurting him in the first place is in prison.
myrna minx
(22,772 posts)UtahLib
(3,179 posts)shenmue
(38,501 posts)KT2000
(20,544 posts)my sympathies to you and the rest of his family. Rest in Peace dear Liam.
AngryAmish
(25,704 posts)Is there a law against you walking into the medical examiner's office and giving them the background? Just do it. The worst is they can say no. Make them know the background. They are human.
Or the state's attorney? Lite a fire on his ass.
5 year olds do not die in their sleep. The standard is in civil cases a proximate cause: not the most, or the most recent but any cause that contributed.
Bjorn Against
(12,041 posts)AwakeAtLast
(14,112 posts)What an extraordinary child with such an extraordinary story. My sincere condolences to you and the entire family. I hope justice is swift.
Autumn will be an excellent teacher when she grows up!
MH1
(17,537 posts)So heartbreaking.
FailureToCommunicate
(13,989 posts)Liberal_in_LA
(44,397 posts)MrMickeysMom
(20,453 posts)He brought joy out of it, though I'm so very sorry.
Pauldg47
(640 posts)Pauldg47
(640 posts)montana_hazeleyes
(3,424 posts)I see the joy on his little face and it is so wrong his beautiful life was so short.
My heart goes out to all who love him.
magical thyme
(14,881 posts)MerryBlooms
(11,728 posts)City Lights
(25,171 posts)So very sad to read this.
My sincere condolences to all who loved him.
blackspade
(10,056 posts)My condolences.
raouldukelives
(5,178 posts)Chan790
(20,176 posts)Bjorn Against
(12,041 posts)lunamagica
(9,967 posts)Bluzmann57
(12,336 posts)May he find peace in his unfortunate passing and may the creature who caused that horrifying injury get what's coming to him.
tblue
(16,350 posts)why things like this happen to sweet innocent souls. I'm so sorry. The heart just breaks.
rock
(13,218 posts)I'm truly sorry.
lark
(22,995 posts)Condolences on the loss of this little bit of sunshine and bright smiles. I'm glad to be able to contribute a little to help out his family in this sad time.
Bjorn Against
(12,041 posts)Bjorn Against
(12,041 posts)Thank you to all those who have expressed sympathy, recommended this thread, shared the link to the GoFundMe page, and thank you especially to those who donated.
In the first 24 hours we have raised $1,715 dollars which is an amazing start, that will pay next month's rent and some additional expenses as well. They will probably still have to move to a cheaper apartment at some point, but if they can have a few months to mourn without having to panic about their financial situation that will no doubt help the healing process.
I know the mother is extremely grateful to everyone who donated, she is extremely traumatized and seeing people she doesn't even know step up to help her has allowed her to have a few smiles at a time when she desperately needs them.