Declan McComb's funeral-headstone expenses.
Hello, my name is Sean Frazier, about 2 years ago I was given the opportunity of a life time to make a difference in a family's life when word got to me of a local boy diagnosed with cancer. Declan McCombs was 3 years old when his parents got the heart breaking news their baby had "neuroblastoma", and for over 2 years Declan would be fighting for his life.
A friend of the family was helping out a local haunted house and was requesting a little help with something special on Declan's 4th birthday. Declan being the brave little guy he was, was a big fan of scary movies, primarily 80's slashers, his favorite slasher being Freddy Krueger, so the family put together a slasher themed birthday for him.
The owners of the haunted house happened to be friends of mine and reached out to me for this request, I am a cosplayer, someone who dresses in costumes and attends events for other's enjoyment, and as fate would have it, one of my characters happens to be Freddy Krueger. After meeting this awesome kid, I spent the next year and a half doing whatever I could to help the family bring a smile on Declan's face, from visiting him in the hospital in costume, face-timing with other cosplayers/slashers with Declan, giving him my actual glove and hat so that he may one day grow big enough to wear them, to bringing other cosplayers to see him in person and helping put together a "mini" Comic-Con in his backyard for his 5th birthday.
There were plans to do more with Declan, such as taking him to meet the actor Robert Englund, and during the year and a half I knew him it was "touch and go" with his health, COVID didn't help matters either, postponing plans made for the little guy, for awhile it seemed as he would make a good recovery but sadly his health deteriorated rapidly in a short amount of time.
Declan passed away November 22, 2020, with his loving parents and family by his side. I had the privilege to see Declan on the night he passed, and I've never felt such heartbreak in my life. I pray that I never feel that way again.
I share his story after finding out that Declan still doesn't have a headstone on his grave, and the family owes about $4,000 left. I cant describe how repulsive it is at how much these things and funeral expenses cost, but no family, especially one who just lost a precious child, should be burdened with the expense of sending their loved ones into the next life.
And so, I'm asking for help in giving one last gift to Declan. Please, if you can spare anything, whether it be money, or just the time it takes to share the link and his story to help raise money for his headstone, it would truly be appreciated.
I never thought, with the characters I portray, that I would be granted such a humble opportunity, and for that reason I'm not sure I'll ever get another chance to, but I am honored to have this experience.
Truly proud to be one of "Declan's Defenders"!
:Declan's Defenders, Facebook page:
https://www.facebook.com/declansdefenders/
I've updated the goal to a more achievable number as any amount helps out.