Dominic's Bright Future in Memory of Shawn Carden

My brother Shawn Carden left this Earth on January 27, 2024 at the age of 45.

He had struggled with addiction for a very long time. If anything good can come from his death, please support his son, Dominic. Shawn would be honored to know that his death wasn't entirely in vain, if it helped raise money for his son's bright future.

Addiction is messy. I mourned the loss of my brother many times over the years when we just didn't know where he was, and if he was alive or not. While he was an addict, that cannot be all he is remembered for. He was still a son, a brother, a father, and so much more. We mourn the life he had that wasn't defined by his addiction. He was once a innocent young child in thick glasses with a big smile.

From his Mom, Bonnie: "Shawn loved Spaghetti and Pizza, and oh my goodness, BBQ Sauce!! People would buy BBQ sauce for him for Christmas and wrap it up because he loved it so much. He liked little matchbox cars and his transformers when he was little. Christmas was his favorite time of year. One year he turned all the clocks to 6:00 in the morning when it was actually only 3:00 in the morning to make us get up early LOL. And the picture of him with the puppy he worked all summer to put money away to buy a Rottweiler that he named Jazz and loved fiercely."

On September 23, 2007, Shawn and Sarah (Marx) Ertz had a perfect baby boy, Dominic Carden. I don't think I could have handpicked a better Mom for my nephew, and I'm truly not just saying that. Sarah is so full of warmth and love from the moment you meet her. I vividly remember meeting her when Shawn brought her to our house. I'll be honest, I was really impressed he scored her as a girlfriend, she was definitely out of his league . Sarah saw in Shawn his huge heart, eagerness to love and be loved, and all of the potential he had.

Sarah spent years trying to save Shawn, but in the end she had to do what was best for her and Dominic. She was such a strong single mother. She did it all on her own for many years, with unfortunately, no help from Shawn.

In 2009 Sarah met an amazing man, Michael Ertz, and his two children, daughter Britney and son Reilley. Michael stepped up as Dominic's father figure and Sarah and Michael married in 2018. They had two more sons, Dominic's little brothers, Michael and Max.

They reside in Louisiana. Dominic is now 16 years old, and thriving. Dominic has always been an athlete. He has played baseball, ran track, and currently loves playing soccer. He is on a competitive U18 team, as well as playing both JV and Varsity for his HS Soccer Team: The Bulldawgs. Dominic loves taking vacations and traveling for soccer. He’s kind, sensitive, thoughtful, loving, athletic, funny and caring. He is handsome, and just the best kid! He is an amazing son and big brother. He deserves the entire world!

Dominic will never get back those years he lost his Dad to addiction. Now gone is the hope that his Dad will ever recover. If there is anything that we can do to help Sarah and Dominic with the future burden of college loans and books, let's please come together and help them.

Thank you all so much for your support ❤️