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Bjorn Against

(12,041 posts)
Mon Jun 22, 2015, 05:28 PM Jun 2015

I 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



64 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
I have some tragic news to report. (Original Post) Bjorn Against Jun 2015 OP
Kick marym625 Jun 2015 #1
Beautiful child, RIP BeyondGeography Jun 2015 #2
Greatest Page for this important and very sad story...n/t CaliforniaPeggy Jun 2015 #3
I am so very sorry. polly7 Jun 2015 #4
This is heart-breaking...sweet dreams little Liam joeybee12 Jun 2015 #5
I'm so very sorry for all of you who loved Liam. herding cats Jun 2015 #6
Thank you so much for sharing Bjorn Against Jun 2015 #49
So sad to hear this, and sorry for this tragic loss. bluesbassman Jun 2015 #7
So very sorry vankuria Jun 2015 #8
Oh how sad for all of you question everything Jun 2015 #9
Before Abuse Occurs... rocktivity Jun 2015 #10
I am so sorry heaven05 Jun 2015 #11
So sad. What a sweet little face. calimary Jun 2015 #12
i am so sorry for your loss of this beautiful little boy etherealtruth Jun 2015 #13
I'm so sorry for your loss, Bjorn Aerows Jun 2015 #14
What a beautiful little boy. brer cat Jun 2015 #15
So sorry for your loss of this beautiful child passiveporcupine Jun 2015 #16
So sorry to hear this. Lifelong Protester Jun 2015 #17
Bjorn barbtries Jun 2015 #18
Rest in peace, precious Liam. democrank Jun 2015 #19
I'm so very sorry, Bjorn Against catbyte Jun 2015 #20
So horribly tragic MoonRiver Jun 2015 #21
Sad news. alfredo Jun 2015 #22
I'm so sorry. Blue_In_AK Jun 2015 #23
If there is a hell, there's a special place reserved for monsters who harm children. Flatulo Jun 2015 #24
k&r Starry Messenger Jun 2015 #25
Very sorry, Bjorn Against. Enthusiast Jun 2015 #26
I'm so sorry. BeanMusical Jun 2015 #27
Kick with great sadness. 840high Jun 2015 #28
I'm so very sorry. whathehell Jun 2015 #29
He stood. With his sister. elehhhhna Jun 2015 #30
I am so sorry. Just chipped in a bit. onecaliberal Jun 2015 #31
Thank you so much for your generosity, it means a great deal Bjorn Against Jun 2015 #50
Thank you so much everyone Bjorn Against Jun 2015 #32
Oy. Heartbreaking. hifiguy Jun 2015 #33
I am so sorry for your loss, Bjorn. myrna minx Jun 2015 #34
K&R for sweet baby Liam. nt UtahLib Jun 2015 #35
... shenmue Jun 2015 #36
this is so sad KT2000 Jun 2015 #37
Leave nothing to chance AngryAmish Jun 2015 #38
The medical examiner is aware of the background Bjorn Against Jun 2015 #60
I am so, so sorry AwakeAtLast Jun 2015 #39
I am so sorry for your loss. MH1 Jun 2015 #40
Wonderful that you took him into your life. Thank you for giving us a chance to help out. FailureToCommunicate Jun 2015 #41
Bjorn _ I am sorry that this beautiful kid has passed Liberal_in_LA Jun 2015 #42
Nothing like this should happen... MrMickeysMom Jun 2015 #43
I'm so sorry....... Pauldg47 Jun 2015 #44
I'm so sorry....... Pauldg47 Jun 2015 #45
I am so sorry. montana_hazeleyes Jun 2015 #46
I am so very sorry for your loss... magical thyme Jun 2015 #47
I'm so very sorry for your loss. MerryBlooms Jun 2015 #48
What a beautiful child. City Lights Jun 2015 #51
RIP Liam. blackspade Jun 2015 #52
I am so sorry. What a sweet child. raouldukelives Jun 2015 #53
Kicked. Recommended. Donated. n/t Chan790 Jun 2015 #54
Thank you so much for the donation. Bjorn Against Jun 2015 #61
I'm so sorry lunamagica Jun 2015 #55
What a beautiful child Bluzmann57 Jun 2015 #56
Ill ever understand tblue Jun 2015 #57
My sympathy to all rock Jun 2015 #58
Thank you for letting us know and help. lark Jun 2015 #59
Thank you so much. Bjorn Against Jun 2015 #62
I want to say once again how grateful I am for everyone's support Bjorn Against Jun 2015 #63
I am so very sorry. LiberalLoner Jun 2015 #64

polly7

(20,582 posts)
4. I am so very sorry.
Mon Jun 22, 2015, 05:35 PM
Jun 2015

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.

herding cats

(19,549 posts)
6. I'm so very sorry for all of you who loved Liam.
Mon Jun 22, 2015, 05:39 PM
Jun 2015

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.

vankuria

(901 posts)
8. So very sorry
Mon Jun 22, 2015, 05:45 PM
Jun 2015

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)
9. Oh how sad for all of you
Mon Jun 22, 2015, 05:49 PM
Jun 2015

will poor Autumn ever remember how she helped her brother?

My deepest condolences to you and to the family.



 

heaven05

(18,124 posts)
11. I am so sorry
Mon Jun 22, 2015, 06:00 PM
Jun 2015

may he be with angels God, more sadness. This veil of tears!!! May you and your friend find peace, hopefully....

calimary

(80,693 posts)
12. So sad. What a sweet little face.
Mon Jun 22, 2015, 06:03 PM
Jun 2015

How could anyone be physically abusive to that? Or to ANY child? ANY abuse, for that matter.

 

Aerows

(39,961 posts)
14. I'm so sorry for your loss, Bjorn
Mon Jun 22, 2015, 06:07 PM
Jun 2015

I never know what to say when tragedy hits someone.

All I can do is this:

catbyte

(34,166 posts)
20. I'm so very sorry, Bjorn Against
Mon Jun 22, 2015, 06:26 PM
Jun 2015

I'll do what I can & I will certainly keep you and Liam's family in my thoughts. What a tragedy.


Bjorn Against

(12,041 posts)
32. Thank you so much everyone
Mon Jun 22, 2015, 07:37 PM
Jun 2015

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)
33. Oy. Heartbreaking.
Mon Jun 22, 2015, 07:44 PM
Jun 2015

I hope the individual responsible for hurting him in the first place is in prison.



 

AngryAmish

(25,704 posts)
38. Leave nothing to chance
Mon Jun 22, 2015, 08:17 PM
Jun 2015

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.

AwakeAtLast

(14,112 posts)
39. I am so, so sorry
Mon Jun 22, 2015, 08:21 PM
Jun 2015

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!

montana_hazeleyes

(3,424 posts)
46. I am so sorry.
Tue Jun 23, 2015, 04:22 AM
Jun 2015

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.






Bluzmann57

(12,336 posts)
56. What a beautiful child
Tue Jun 23, 2015, 11:05 AM
Jun 2015

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)
57. Ill ever understand
Tue Jun 23, 2015, 11:36 AM
Jun 2015

why things like this happen to sweet innocent souls. I'm so sorry. The heart just breaks.

lark

(22,995 posts)
59. Thank you for letting us know and help.
Tue Jun 23, 2015, 01:59 PM
Jun 2015

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)
63. I want to say once again how grateful I am for everyone's support
Tue Jun 23, 2015, 03:06 PM
Jun 2015

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.

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