For Maya’s Legacy — A Mother’s Love and a New

Beginning for Her Son After Tragedy

Carrying Maya’s love in my heart, I’m fighting to rebuild a life for my son and me after the tragedy that took her from us.

A mother and son rebuilding life after unimaginable tragedy, honoring Maya’s legacy with love, strength, and hope.

Our Story

On May 1, 2025, my world shattered. My daughter, Maya, was shot by her father—my husband—inside our home. On May 5, my sweet Maya passed away in my arms at the hospital.

Since that day, my life has felt like a nightmare I can’t wake up from. The grief, the shock, and the betrayal are beyond words. The unimaginable happened—a mother losing her child.

Maya was only three years old—full of light, laughter, and love. She was my pride and joy, my heart, my everything. I will love her for the rest of my life.

Rebuilding After Tragedy

After the tragedy, I lost everything. I was forced to leave the home I had lived in for eight years—the home where I raised my children, filled with love and memories of Maya.

With the help of the Surprise Police Department and my victim advocates, I fled with my son, Borys, to safety. My family went from four down to two. I had to leave behind everything—our belongings, our stability, our home—and begin again.

Now it’s just Borys and me, starting over from nothing. I am doing everything I can to stay strong for my son, even as I grieve deeply for Maya.

She is forever my angel in heaven—always with me, within my heart and soul—even though a part of my own soul died with her.

How You Can Help

So many challenges are stacked against me as I grieve the loss of my daughter and try to rebuild a safe life for my son and myself. The tragedy brought emotional pain and financial hardship, but I’m determined to keep going for Borys and to honor Maya’s legacy.

• Memorial and funeral costs for Maya

• Loss of our home and belongings, and moving into a safe new place

• Monthly living expenses like rent, utilities, groceries, gas, and HOA fees

• Borys’s school and basic needs, giving him safety and stability

• Therapy and grief support for both of us as we heal

• Divorce and legal fees as I rebuild independence and safety

• Car insurance, bills, and essentials until I can return to full-time work

• Support to relaunch my art career, as I work to provide for us again through my paintings

Every donation, no matter how small, brings us closer to stability, healing, and peace. From the bottom of my heart, thank you to everyone who reads, donates, or shares our story.

Your kindness gives us strength to move forward—carrying Maya’s light and legacy with us always.

— Marigrace Modrzejewski

Every day I carry the weight of love and loss, because she mattered and still matters.

Important Notice

This page was created to share our story and receive support. I understand that news outlets or media organizations may wish to share this fundraiser publicly to help spread awareness and support. You may share the link to this GoFundMe and information contained in this post, but I am not participating in interviews or additional media coverage at this time.

To my family and friends: please do not speak to the media on my behalf or share personal photos or information for safety reasons. This remains a deeply painful and private matter. My focus is on protecting my son and honoring Maya’s memory with dignity and peace.

Thank you for understanding and respecting our privacy.