On Friday, July 3, 2026, our family experienced the unimaginable. My beautiful niece, Kaylee, was taken from us far too soon following a tragic accident. She had celebrated her 18th birthday just three months earlier, and our hearts are shattered by this devastating loss.
I am creating this fundraiser on behalf of my brother, his wife, and our entire family as they face every parent's worst nightmare. While they are trying to process the unimaginable grief of losing their daughter, they are also burdened with unexpected medical expenses related to the accident, along with funeral, memorial, and burial costs.
Anyone who knew Kaylee knew she was someone truly special.
If you were fortunate enough to know Kaylee, you know she had the kindest heart and a smile that could brighten any room. She had an incredible gift for making people feel comfortable, accepted, and valued. She could make people laugh when they needed it most, and she genuinely cared about those around her. Kaylee was one of the brightest lights in our family, and the love she shared with others was returned many times over.
Kaylee loved working with children at Explorations Child Enrichment Center in Centerville, Ohio, where her compassion and patience made a lasting impact on the little ones she cared for. She also worked as a water park attendant, always enjoying being around people and bringing positivity wherever she went. Caring for others came naturally to her. This fall, she was preparing to begin her freshman year at Wright State University, where she planned to study Early Childhood Education and fulfill her dream of becoming a teacher. She was excited about the future and about spending her life helping children learn, grow, and feel loved.
Kaylee adored her dog, Oscar, treasured her family and friends, and had recently found so much happiness and hope for the future. After overcoming challenges that would have broken many people, she remained strong, compassionate, and full of light. She never allowed hardship to take away her gentle spirit.
Her mother described her perfectly:
"You had the gentlest soul. You were genuinely kind, always looking for ways to make someone else smile. Ever since you were little, you loved giving compliments and making people feel special. That was just who you were."
Those words capture exactly who Kaylee was.
No family is ever prepared for a loss like this. Every donation, no matter the amount, will go directly toward helping relieve the financial burden of Kaylee's unexpected medical expenses, funeral, memorial, and burial costs so her parents can focus on grieving their daughter and honoring the incredible young woman she was.
If you are unable to donate, we completely understand. We ask only that you keep our family in your thoughts and prayers and share this fundraiser so that Kaylee's story can reach others.
From the bottom of our hearts, thank you for your kindness, generosity, and love during the most difficult time our family has ever faced.
Kaylee's light touched so many lives in just 18 short years. While her time with us was far too brief, the love she gave so freely will continue to live on in every person fortunate enough to have known her.
In honoring Kaylee's memory, we hope to show her family the same kindness, compassion, and generosity that she so freely gave to everyone around her.
Thank you for helping us honor her beautiful life.