D’Metri Malik Strait
10/14/2002-9/29/2021



My name is Rebekah. My husband and I are setting up this GoFundMe on request and behalf of the Paget family. 100% of the donations will go to Tammie and Alex Paget to use however they see fit.

The Paget family has a long history of service to our country. A large, happy family, they have a reputation of being the life of the party. Bringing joy and happiness everywhere they go. As you can see from this homecoming picture from 2012.

 

The Paget family has been dealt a hand of unbelievable tragedy in the past several years. Their fourteen year old son, Alexander Ryan Paget Jr, "JR", passed away on 2 March, 2020 and their son Dmetri was diagnosed with stage four cancer in January of 2021.

 

 

 

 

Less than a year later, in January of 2021, their eighteen year old son Dmetri was diagnosed with stage four cancer. For the last six months, Dmetri has been a brave warrior. He has been cut open, has faced two major surgeries, had multiple NG tubes, a feeding tube, a peg tube, an ileostomy bag, an Ostomy bag, multiple drainage procedures and so much more.

 

 

 

 

Dmetri has never complained about any of it.

 

Let me say that again.

 

Dmetri has never complained about any of it.

 

Despite being dealt an unfair hand. Despite the pain, the discomfort, the unbearable amount of loss of privacy for a teenager, he doesn't complain. He keeps a smile on his face throughout it all.

 

 

 

And the kid has so much to complain about. He had to miss his entire senior year. All the dances, football, homecoming- it was all cancelled. The only thing he had to look forward to was graduation. After graduation he was looking forward to joining the military, following in his dad's footsteps.  The doctors gave him a hour pass so he could join his class and walk at graduation. 

Let me tell you about Meech, as his dad calls him.

 

Dmetri has always been a quiet kid. He's been the type of kid who was always deep in thought. A creative child, he has entertained himself from a very young age. Tammie would give him a stack of empty boxes to play with and he would build a castle. In his wood shop class, Dmetri made a toddler sized airplane rocking chair.

 

Dmetri is an appreciative kid. When he graduated high school, his parents bought him a car. They couldn't afford much, but scraped together 2K for one. He was so grateful! He smiled and thanked them, ignoring the Wizard of Oz paint job, something very much not his style, and the amount of work the car needs done to it, just happy to have a vehicle of his own. He wanted to work to put his pay towards a new paint job, amps and speakers.

 

 

 

 

Then he got diagnosed with stage four cancer.

 

Being sick hasn't stopped Dmetri from making plans.

 

No, Dmetri has big plans for the future. He has it all figured it. He wants to join the Air Force, go to college, get a girlfriend at 23 and have a kid at 25.

 

 

 

 

Unfortunately, sometimes our plans aren't what happens in life. We are praying hard for this amazing young man. Praying for a miracle. Praying for healing. Praying for strength for his family during this tough time.

 

But, prayers don't cover medical bills. Gas to and from the hospital. Loss of income to be with your child. It doesn't cover the mounting expenses the family is facing. On top of the funeral expenses that they dealt with less than a year ago. That is where you come in. I am asking, if you have anything to spare, every $5 helps, please consider donating! And share. Sharing is SO important.

 

For the love of Dmetri!