On Christmas morning, while the world was waking up to celebrations, the Collins family was saying a final goodbye to their son.
At 7:55 am, 19-year-old Michael Austin Collins grew his wings and flew out of the family nest, surrounded by the people who loved him most: his parents, Chris and Cathy, and his sister, Samantha.
When Michael was just 18 months old, he was diagnosed with Vanishing White Matter (VWM) disease. Doctors told his parents not to plan for his 10th birthday. Chris and Cathy chose to plan for so much more.
For 19 years, they refused to let a terminal diagnosis define Michael’s life. They chose adventure over despair. Michael didn’t just survive, he thrived. He graduated grade school, then high school and celebrated his 19th birthday with a heartwarming smile and a few drops of beer.
From the family trailer up north to the sun-soaked shores of Florida, Michael experienced a lifetime of laughter, fishing, swimming, BBQs, campfires and amusement parks.
This past year, Michael’s pain became too great to make his favourite annual road trip to Cocoa Beach. Now that his struggle is over, his family wants to honour his spirit in the most meaningful way possible.
Instead of a traditional funeral, the Collins family is planning Michael’s Final Road Trip. They will carry his memory and his ashes from their trailer all the way to Cocoa Beach, stopping at every place Michael loved along the way.
The Collins family has never asked for anything. They have spent two decades pouring every ounce of energy and resource into Michael’s care and happiness. They want to ensure that this final journey is one of healing, not financial hardship.
A fundraiser has been started by Tanya Veer-Casey and your donation will help cover:
• Travel and accommodation expenses for the memorial road trip.
• Final arrangements and cremation costs.
• Support for the family as they navigate life after 19 years of full-time caregiving.
You can help send the Collins Family on one last trip to the beach with Michael. Rest in peace, little buddy. You’ve traded your chair for wings.
Till last night, $18,579 of $20,000 had been raised from 177 donations.
Link for the gofundme can be found here.
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