In memory of son, family raises money for friend’s wheelchair van

In memory of son, family raises money for friend’s wheelchair van

(Courtesy of Sarah Love)


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KAYSVILLE — Andy’s friend Simon knew just how to make him laugh when they attended the Utah School for the Deaf and Blind together.

Andy Love, who would have turned 7 on July 28, died in 2013 from complications related to a respiratory syncytial virus infection. However, his life is still having a positive impact on others thanks to his family, who holds a fundraiser each year to celebrate his birthday. This year, the Loves' goal is to raise money so Simon’s family can purchase a wheelchair van.

“(Simon’s) family has actually been trying to raise money for a wheelchair van for like two years,” said Sarah Love, Andy’s mom. “They do things all of the time — (Simon) has a website where he does paintings with his handprints and they sell those, but they aren’t even halfway to what their cost is. So we decided this year to help them try and get a wheelchair van so he can get around and live a good life.”

To raise money, the Love family is hosting a hero-themed “virtual 5K” where anyone can sign up to run, bike, walk or swim the distance whenever or wherever they want during the week of Andy’s birthday, which starts July 25. They’re inviting participants to dress up as superheroes and post their pictures on the Andy’s Hero Run Facebook page.

Simon, who is now 10 years old, was in the same class as Andy at school. The two boys had a similar sense of humor and shared a love of music, according to Sarah Love.

“There were a couple of times where I would go to the school and Simon would be making funny noises and Andy would just be laughing hysterically,” she said. “They were cute little buddies.”

Left: Simon tries out a wheelchair van. Right: Andy with Simon. Photo courtesy of Sarah Love

This isn’t the first project the Loves have tackled to honor Andy’s memory. For the first birthday after his death, they made 250 heart-shaped pillows to donate to the cardiac intensive care unit at Primary Children’s Hospital, where Andy spent a significant amount of time. The next year, they hosted an “ice cream for breakfast” event to raise funds for Give Kids the World, which runs the villas where the Love family stayed during a Make-A-Wish trip in Florida.

“The reason we are doing this is because at his birthday we can either feel sad about him not being here, or we could do something good and positive as more of a celebration,” Sarah Love said. “That’s the road we decided to take.”

While the Loves knew Andy was medically fragile — he was born with a rare genetic disorder that Sarah Love described as being similar to Down syndrome, but involving a different chromosome — his death was unexpected. He had a hypoplastic heart, was legally blind and experienced other developmental delays, but was strong and doing much better than doctors predicted at his birth.

“At the end, he was crawling around, which they said he would never be able to do. He could sit up by himself. He was very happy,” Sarah Love said. “He would come over and crawl up to me and give me kisses. They were baby kisses, but they were still kisses. And he loved to give hugs and stuff. He just did so much better than what the doctors had even said was possible.”

Andy with his sister Ali. Photo courtesy of Sarah Love

However, Andy’s health took a turn after the Loves moved to Utah from Oregon. He eventually contracted RSV and died in February 2013. Just a few months later, Sarah Love was diagnosed with thyroid cancer.

“It was kind of overwhelming,” she said. “It wasn’t my best year, but we made it through.”

Through it all, the Loves have kept their focus on service. They regularly do things to give back to the organizations that supported Andy while he lived. In December, they plan to go back to Florida to volunteer with Give Kids the World.

Sarah Love said they hope to raise enough money during their current fundraiser to help Simon’s family finally purchase a wheelchair van. People can sign up to participate in the virtual 5K or make donations online.

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