Donation protected
Our bright, vivacious, and beloved Heather Clifton passed away at her home in West Chester, OH. The result of brain cancer. She leaves behind her husband, Keith, their 15 year old son, Max, and countless others who loved her. This family has had to endure unbearable tragedy throughout the years that most will never know: The loss of their infant daughter, the bankruptcy that followed due to medical bills, and now the loss of their wife and mother to brain cancer. Through it all they never lost their generous and hopeful spirit. Now family friends have organized this fundraiser to help them. Through your generosity we can provide them relief from their overwhelming medical expenses, the means to afford a family home again, and the hope of a better tomorrow for their talented, smart, and capable son, Max. (Please continue to hit "read more" for the complete story of this wonderful family.)
Early Diagnosis
Heather’s life was marked by passionate joy and giving. In true Heather fashion, she valiantly overcame a brain tumor when she was a sophomore at Miami University. The illness, however, continued to afflict her with seizures that she endured throughout the rest of her life. Despite the odds, she fought on, graduated, and ultimately touched countless young lives as a third grade teacher at Heritage Elementary School. Unfortunately, her seizures became so severe that she was forced to resign from the vocation she was passionate about.
Their Daughter, Paige
Heather and Keith faced immeasurable tragedy early on with the loss of their first-born child, Paige. Born a healthy baby, Paige was stricken with a rare illness when she was just 4 months old. Heather and Keith lived by her side at the hospital for the next four excruciating months until she passed. They were heartbroken, devastated and burdened with medical expenses that were so insurmountable their family was forced into bankruptcy.
Miracle Max
Heather and Keith were determined to heal and build a family. Once again, though, heartbreak reared its ugly head when they were told infertility issues had snuffed out their chances of ever being parents again. Soon after, as if twisting the knife, they learned Heather needed yet another surgery. However, it was during pre-op of that surgery that the nurse summoned Keith, brought him to Heather lying in the operating room and, as Keith tells it, “I will always remember her beautiful face with a tear rolling down it and her saying “Honey I’m pregnant”.
Their miracle son Maximum Paige Clifton came to them 9 months later. A beautiful healthy 10 lb boy.
The teacher in Heather rejoiced in reading to him every night, and by the third grade Max was already reading at a high school level.
Now Max is 15 years old and a sophomore at Lakota East. He likes to do what most 15 year old’s do - learn to drive, play video games, laugh, argue, explore, and knowingly or not, find their purpose in an increasingly perplexing world. Max does all of this on top of being a hard worker and excellent student. But now, at such a crucial age, he’s forced to navigate a future without the calming guidance of his mother. He now must reconcile a loss of such magnitude that it must be hard for him to imagine he’ll ever fully smile again.
He will though. Because he’s Max. And he’s already proven miracles happen.
Saying Goodbye
“We would look each other in the eye every day and say ‘I love you’. It was the kind of ‘I love you’ where each person saying it really meant it. It’s my wish for you all that you can share that kind of ‘I love you’ without the knowledge that you will soon be parting”. - Keith Clifton
The news came on June 29, 2016, and it was the worst kind. Heather’s debilitating illness had returned and the odds of beating it a second time were slim. Heather held her head up and soldiered; she was determined to be the best mother she could be to Max. As her illness progressed, Heather became bedridden, still she never let the illness take her will to live.
Heather died peacefully this year on July 25, 2020 with Max and Keith by her side, after a brave 4 year battle against the brain tumor she had originally survived years earlier.
The Reality
Immediately after Heather’s passing, money concerns weighed heavily on Keith. Heather’s life insurance dropped her years ago and Keith struggled to even cover the expense of her final arrangements. During her final months Keith was her sole caregiver while also balancing his full-time career as a Banquet Manager, but during that same time his industry was decimated by Covid and Keith lost his job.
Understandably he is struggling mightily now to get back on his feet and support Max. Covid has made this an almost insurmountable challenge as meetings and banquets have been canceled throughout the state. Keith, though unemployed, is still determined to provide for his family by taking odd jobs to try and make ends meet. But some odds are much greater than others, and as a result, they recently had to give up their home and move in with family. While they’re so grateful for this kindness, they desperately need a home for Keith and his son to once again heal and look to the future.
Tomorrow
Recently some of our close friends pooled together to offer what financial help we could and, when we saw the gratitude and hope showed by even this small gift, we realized we needed help from a broader community. All proceeds net of GoFundMe's 3% fee will go directly to Keith to help relieve the burden of medical bills, offset living expenses incurred while caring for Heather, and aide in the purchase of a home they can call their own. Any additional monies will be directed toward a college fund for Max.
Our goal is to surpass $50,000, the amount needed to begin getting this wonderful family back on track and ensure a bright future for a promising young man.
Thank you so much for reading this and for your willingness to help.
Please share this link on social media! As a friend of the Clifton’s, I’m happy to answer any other questions you may have so please feel free to reach out to me, Eric, via this website.
Early Diagnosis
Heather’s life was marked by passionate joy and giving. In true Heather fashion, she valiantly overcame a brain tumor when she was a sophomore at Miami University. The illness, however, continued to afflict her with seizures that she endured throughout the rest of her life. Despite the odds, she fought on, graduated, and ultimately touched countless young lives as a third grade teacher at Heritage Elementary School. Unfortunately, her seizures became so severe that she was forced to resign from the vocation she was passionate about.
Their Daughter, Paige
Heather and Keith faced immeasurable tragedy early on with the loss of their first-born child, Paige. Born a healthy baby, Paige was stricken with a rare illness when she was just 4 months old. Heather and Keith lived by her side at the hospital for the next four excruciating months until she passed. They were heartbroken, devastated and burdened with medical expenses that were so insurmountable their family was forced into bankruptcy.
Miracle Max
Heather and Keith were determined to heal and build a family. Once again, though, heartbreak reared its ugly head when they were told infertility issues had snuffed out their chances of ever being parents again. Soon after, as if twisting the knife, they learned Heather needed yet another surgery. However, it was during pre-op of that surgery that the nurse summoned Keith, brought him to Heather lying in the operating room and, as Keith tells it, “I will always remember her beautiful face with a tear rolling down it and her saying “Honey I’m pregnant”.
Their miracle son Maximum Paige Clifton came to them 9 months later. A beautiful healthy 10 lb boy.
The teacher in Heather rejoiced in reading to him every night, and by the third grade Max was already reading at a high school level.
Now Max is 15 years old and a sophomore at Lakota East. He likes to do what most 15 year old’s do - learn to drive, play video games, laugh, argue, explore, and knowingly or not, find their purpose in an increasingly perplexing world. Max does all of this on top of being a hard worker and excellent student. But now, at such a crucial age, he’s forced to navigate a future without the calming guidance of his mother. He now must reconcile a loss of such magnitude that it must be hard for him to imagine he’ll ever fully smile again.
He will though. Because he’s Max. And he’s already proven miracles happen.
Saying Goodbye
“We would look each other in the eye every day and say ‘I love you’. It was the kind of ‘I love you’ where each person saying it really meant it. It’s my wish for you all that you can share that kind of ‘I love you’ without the knowledge that you will soon be parting”. - Keith Clifton
The news came on June 29, 2016, and it was the worst kind. Heather’s debilitating illness had returned and the odds of beating it a second time were slim. Heather held her head up and soldiered; she was determined to be the best mother she could be to Max. As her illness progressed, Heather became bedridden, still she never let the illness take her will to live.
Heather died peacefully this year on July 25, 2020 with Max and Keith by her side, after a brave 4 year battle against the brain tumor she had originally survived years earlier.
The Reality
Immediately after Heather’s passing, money concerns weighed heavily on Keith. Heather’s life insurance dropped her years ago and Keith struggled to even cover the expense of her final arrangements. During her final months Keith was her sole caregiver while also balancing his full-time career as a Banquet Manager, but during that same time his industry was decimated by Covid and Keith lost his job.
Understandably he is struggling mightily now to get back on his feet and support Max. Covid has made this an almost insurmountable challenge as meetings and banquets have been canceled throughout the state. Keith, though unemployed, is still determined to provide for his family by taking odd jobs to try and make ends meet. But some odds are much greater than others, and as a result, they recently had to give up their home and move in with family. While they’re so grateful for this kindness, they desperately need a home for Keith and his son to once again heal and look to the future.
Tomorrow
Recently some of our close friends pooled together to offer what financial help we could and, when we saw the gratitude and hope showed by even this small gift, we realized we needed help from a broader community. All proceeds net of GoFundMe's 3% fee will go directly to Keith to help relieve the burden of medical bills, offset living expenses incurred while caring for Heather, and aide in the purchase of a home they can call their own. Any additional monies will be directed toward a college fund for Max.
Our goal is to surpass $50,000, the amount needed to begin getting this wonderful family back on track and ensure a bright future for a promising young man.
Thank you so much for reading this and for your willingness to help.
Please share this link on social media! As a friend of the Clifton’s, I’m happy to answer any other questions you may have so please feel free to reach out to me, Eric, via this website.
Organizer and beneficiary
Eric Anthony
Organizer
West Chester, OH
Keith Clifton
Beneficiary