No family is ever prepared to say goodbye to an 8-year-old child.

On Saturday morning, the Preske family’s world changed forever when Isabelle Preske was tragically killed in a car accident. In a matter of moments, a family lost a daughter, a sister, a granddaughter, a niece—and an entire lifetime of memories they should have had the chance to make with her.

Eight years is not enough.

There should have been more birthdays. More first days of school. More family vacations, holidays, laughter and ordinary mornings. There should have been more sleepovers and school dances and learning to drive. There should have been graduations and dreams for the future. Isabelle should have had the chance to grow up.

Instead, the people who love her are now facing the unimaginable task of saying goodbye.

As friends of Brad, Aaron, and the Preske family, we are creating this fundraiser because grief this enormous is already more than any family should have to carry. Along with their heartbreak have come sudden expenses they never could have anticipated or planned for. We don’t want financial stress or debt to become another burden they are forced to carry in the wake of losing Isabelle.

We cannot take away their pain. We cannot give them back the years with Isabelle that were stolen from them. But we can surround them with love. We can show up. We can help carry the practical burdens so they can focus on one another, on grieving, and on honoring the beautiful little girl they love so deeply.

Every donation, regardless of the amount, is one small way of telling this family: you do not have to carry all of this alone.

If you are able, please consider donating. If you cannot, sharing Isabelle’s story and this fundraiser is an equally meaningful way to help.

Please keep Isabelle’s family in your hearts in the days, weeks and months ahead. Their lives will never be the same, but we hope our community can help make the road in front of them just a little less heavy.

About this fundraiser

My name is Ashley Riester, and I am a friend of Brad Flittner and his family. I created this fundraiser on Brad’s behalf to help ease the financial burden his family is facing following the tragic loss of his 8-year-old niece, Isabelle Preske.

All funds raised through this GoFundMe will be transferred directly to Brad and used to help pay for Isabelle’s funeral and related expenses. Our hope is that by coming together as a community, we can help ensure that finances are one less thing this family has to carry while grieving such an unimaginable loss.

Thank you for every donation, share, message and act of kindness. Your support means more to this family than words can express.