Story
Hi! My name is Ashlee, but most know me as EE (double E). I’m a critical care RN at OSU and recently I lost my baby brother to multi organ system failure in the ICU I work on.
DJ was born medically complex and spent the remainder of his life battling those complexities. The pneumonia that initially brought him into the hospital was the unfortunate start to a cascade of events that he was unable to recover from. In his final moments we chose to give him comfort and peace when chronic illness had taken so much of that from him.
My mother has cared for DJ since birth; constant and unwavering. This dedication kept her at his beside for the duration of the 2 weeks he fought for his life. She lost income to support her household during that time, but that was never her concern. Her priority was to be with DJ, no matter the cost.
This is the person my mother is, not only for DJ, but at her core. She will give whatever she can to someone in need, even if that means she goes without. She is selflessness personified.
DJ’s passing has left a void that will never be filled. I would like my mother’s focus at this time to be grieving and healing; without the burden of finances lingering omnipresent.
Any contribution is appreciated and helps a mother that never planned to have a funeral for her youngest child.
To my baby brother:
There were small victories, but the setbacks were greater. With every setback, the hole became deeper until the depth was too much to climb out of. Your hand was never that of a lucky one, you continued to shuffle, but unfortunately at 26 you still had to throw the cards in. I’m so sorry, Dj, I couldn’t reach down farther in that hole to pull you out.