The Story

On the morning of Sunday, December 7, the very last time Emma (11), Noah (8), and JJ (4) saw their dad, they thought it was just another visit to the hospital. They hugged him, talked to him, and told him they loved him. None of them knew they were saying goodbye for the last time.

The very next morning, on December 8, at just 31 years old, James Falley took his last breath.

James had been fighting every single day for two months to get back home to his wife, Brooke, and their three children. He wanted one thing more than anything else: to be a dad again in his own house, not in a hospital room.

The Fight

James went into the hospital in September. What started as a battle for his health escalated to him relying on two heart support machines and kidney dialysis. There were long nights and scary moments, but James was a warrior.

When his physical therapist asked him to stand for one minute, James pushed for a minute and twenty seconds. That was who he was. If there was a way to give more, he gave more. Even after blood clots caused multiple strokes and took the movement on his left side, he would still lift his right arm to shake a hand or throw up a peace sign to let us know he was still with us.

The Goodbye

The plan was for James to get strong enough for a heart and kidney transplant. But the clots were too deep, and the damage was too severe. When the doctors said there was nothing left to do, James asked for one last meal: a steak from NYY and three dirty Dr Peppers.

He never made it to that meal. On Monday morning, before visiting hours, his father rushed to his side, placed James’s Mets hat on his head, and held his hand as he passed. James opened his eyes one last time, surrounded by love.

The Crisis

Now, the machines are quiet, and the silence left behind is deafening.

James was the primary provider for his family. He had recently taken a leap of faith to start his own business helping small companies with their marketing. Because he was self-employed and just starting out, the family does not have the safety net of corporate benefits or paid leave.

Brooke, who drove 2.5 hours each way daily to be with James while keeping life together for the kids, is now facing a terrifying reality.

There is no pause button for grief.

The mortgage company, the car lender, and the utility companies still expect to be paid. Brooke is suddenly a widowed mother of three, trying to navigate funeral arrangements and broken hearts while facing the immediate threat of financial collapse.

How You Can Help

This fund is being established to build a safety net for Brooke, Emma, Noah, and JJ.

• The Immediate Goal: Keep them in their home. The funds will go directly toward the mortgage and utilities so the kids do not lose their house on top of losing their dad.

• The Future: Donations will cover groceries, childcare for 2-year-old JJ, car payments, and counseling for the children as they process this trauma.

James’s father will assist Brooke in managing these funds to ensure every dollar is used to secure the children's future, just as he promised his son he would.

James was a loud, loyal Mets fan who believed in comebacks. He was a sarcastic, funny friend whose hospital room was never empty. Now, we are asking you to be the comeback team for his family.

If you can donate, you are helping buy Brooke time to breathe. If you cannot donate, please share this story.

Thank you for loving James, and thank you for helping care for the family he loved most.