Support for Family After Tragic Loss of 5 year-old son

My name is Bryan. I’m a father of two boys, 2 and 5, and a baby girl on the way. We recently lost my closest friend’s son to a tragedy, who grew up very close to our oldest boy as well as our family. My friends are not ones to ask for anything from anyone, but we know they need any support they can get.

My beloved brother and his soul mate lost their 5 year old boy on August 31, 2025 at Rincon Beach in Ventura, CA. While standing on rocks behind the beach near the sand with his best friend, one dislodged and caused a rock above it to fall, all unfolding in front of his parents and friends eyes. Maxwell succumbed to his injuries.

Some of their fondest family memories were made camping and exploring the Californian beaches, deserts, and mountains. They spent most of their time camping and exploring new places around Southern California, including their favorite, Ricardo campground. A lot of time visiting ventura beaches with their close local friends as well as camping at Lake Casitas. They made frequent road trips to visit family in San Francisco and Idaho camping along the way in some of the gems of Northern California, like Jedediah smith.

If you know Mikey and Chrissy you know that they have a huge heart and live a lifestyle that brings meaning to truly living life and finding happiness. They cherish the simple things in life and choose time with family and friends over materials and toys. They are genuine people who always try to find the good inside of others. Max was their biggest joy in life and a blessing they couldn’t have wanted more. Max lived and experienced more in his short 5 years of life then most children get in their lifetime. He got to live a life of adventure and exploring while building some of the fondest memories with his mom, dad, friends, and family.

Max will be immensely missed by all who knew him. He was an energetic spirit with a huge heart that brought so much joy to not only his parents lives, but some of his closest friends and family’s lives. Please feel free to show your love and help this family during this time of need.

The funds will go towards the funeral costs and grievance therapy.

The rest of the funds will go to paying off debts and into a high yield savings account to help them with the costs of living while they are in between work and finding ways of getting back into financial stability. They were a single income family that chose to spend most of their time as a family traveling, rather than working. They are trying to find a new path to financial stability that supports their new journey in life together without their baby boy. They plan to spend the next year traveling to all of Max’s favorite camping spots in honor of him. They will be extending their traveling outside of their normal short trips in a search to find new meaning to their journey in life.