Maxie Randell Memorial Fund, our hearts are broken
Imagine if your child passed away during this time when social distancing rules are being enforced and you weren't allowed to have a proper funeral service, but were being bombarded with images of people gathering by the thousands across the nation. How would you feel, would you be okay with this double standard for social distancing rules? I am not okay with it and all I want to do is honor my beautiful child by giving him a proper send-off and be allowed to mourn his loss with friends and family. Maxie's life matters as much as anyone else's.
My precious son Maxie passed away in my arms unexpectedly at 3:02am on Saturday, April 18, 2020. He was the center of my family's universe. We are absolutely devastated. Maxie made our lives and this world a brighter and more beautiful place with his wonderful smile. He was pure light, love and happiness. I honestly don't know how to exist without him. I took care of him for twenty two and a half years and even though he was dependent on others for his daily care and survival it was a joy to do everything because he made life so beautiful with his love, kisses and cuddles. I am lost without my Maxie. Everything has been complicated and made so much worse by the Covid crisis and shut downs.
We were limited to nine people when Maxie passed away, and not being allowed to mourn and grieve with our extended family and everyone else who loved Maxie has been extremely difficult.
I am trying to plan a proper memorial service for July 18th, the three month anniversary of his passing because we hope to be allowed to invite up to 50 people by then, and possibly a lot more depending on what happens with the rules in Illinois. This will cost several thousand dollars in addition to everything we already paid for Maxie's casket andcremation in April. I will be paying for what is essentially a second funeral. I want more than anything to give Maxie the service he deserves, something that reflects the love he brought to this world. His life mattered just as much as anyone else's.
Maxie had been a medical pioneer and led the mission to cure Canavan disease since he was 5 months old, link to article below. He has been inspiring the fight to cure Canavan disease since he was five months old and this mission will continue with his memory as a legacy of hope for families around the world. I will miss my beloved child with every fiber of my body and soul every second until I take my last breath. The world will never be as bright without Maxie's smile to light it up. Please help us give Maxie a proper send-off and the memorial service he deserves.
With gratitude, warmth and blessings,
Ilyce Randell
Maxie's Mom
*My original goal with this campaign was to pay off Maxie's van and donate it to another family, but I didn't receive anywhere near the amount I needed to do that. I owed $39,000 on it, but I was able to pay off $10,000 with donations from this GoFundMe. Now I can offer the van to a family in need for only $29,000, it's worth about $35,000. I was also able to donate about $30,000 of Maxie's medical equipment to families around the world and pay for shipping. I have lowered the goal to raise just enough now to help pay for a memorial service for Maxie. Rather than start a separate campaign for $4000 I have changed the goal to account for what's been raised and spent already. ❤
https://blogs.plos.org/dnascience/2020/04/23/a-tribute-to-max-randell-gene-therapy-pioneer/
This article was published just a couple days before Maxie passed away:
https://privateprepspress.com/home-1/2020/4/15/beyond-blood-randell-brothers-tight-knit-in-unique-circumstancesnbsp
