Yesterday, our world changed forever.
Our beautiful boy, Atlas, took his last breaths.
He drifted peacefully into forever, snuggled into bed with his mommy and daddy.
The soft rise and fall of his chest, the warmth of his tiny hand in ours, the gentle curve of his smile—it’s all etched into our hearts now.
Atlas fought so hard and for so long to stay with us.
For over three years, he battled a cruel enemy, yet he never lost his spark, never stopped loving, never stopped giving joy to everyone around him.
Even in the midst of suffering, he was laughter, love, light.
Three years, precious as they were, will never be enough.
We cherished every smile, every giggle, every tiny milestone he achieved.
He was the embodiment of pure joy, of courage that no words could ever describe.
Even as cancer tried to take him from us, he lived fully in every heartbeat, every breath, every second.
He loved beyond measure and was loved even more.
Yesterday, we spent four hours holding him, kissing him, memorizing every detail of his perfect little body.
The shape of his tiny fingers, the curve of his little toes, the softness of his hair, the delicate eyelashes brushing his cheeks, every scar that told a story of his strength.
We whispered love into his ears, told him how brave he was, and how deeply he was cherished.
He was dressed in his yellow pajamas, wrapped in a warm fuzzy blanket, with my childhood stuffed animal beside him and one carefully picked by his big brother, Xavier.
Each object, each touch, was an attempt to freeze this moment in our hearts forever.
The pain is unimaginable.
The grief is indescribable.
The anger rises unbidden: how could cancer steal him from us?
How could it take a light so bright, a soul so pure, a boy so full of life?
Atlas was magic made flesh.
His presence was a miracle.
To hold him was to touch the sky.
To love him was to know the deepest joy any parent can know.
The world is dimmer now without him.
The sun shines, but its light feels colder.
The days are longer, emptier, quieter.
Our hearts ache with a pain we never knew existed.
Every corner of our home reminds us of him—his toys, his tiny clothes, his laughter echoing in memory.
We cling to the hope that one day, our souls will meet again.
Until then, we are broken.
Xavier and I are shattered beyond repair.
We feel a heaviness that seeps into every part of our being.
Yet, even in the depths of our despair, we are grateful.
Grateful for every day we had with him.
Grateful for the smiles, the cuddles, the simple joy of watching him sleep.
Every second was a gift.
Every laugh, every whisper, every tiny hand reaching for ours—it was a miracle we will never forget.
Yesterday, after saying our final goodbyes, Xavier carried Atlas’ tiny body out to the waiting hands of the funeral home.
The world seemed to pause as we followed, hearts heavy, tears falling freely.
Atlas was taken from us physically, but his spirit remains, whispering love into the corners of our home, reminding us of his courage, his joy, his endless heart.
We remember the sound of his laughter bouncing off the walls, the way he would hug us with all the strength he could muster, the way he would fall asleep with our fingers in his tiny hand.
Every milestone, every scraped knee, every small victory over pain became a treasure we held close.
Even on the days when sickness stole his energy, he would find ways to shine, to make others laugh, to remind us all that life is meant to be lived fully, even in hardship.
The quiet moments were often the loudest—watching him breathe, seeing him dream, feeling the warmth of his body pressed against ours.
Those moments now feel like gold, memories we cling to desperately, fragments of a life that was far too short.
Now, we face the task of arranging cremation services.
The cost, $1675, is daunting.
We are reaching out to anyone who can help, to give Atlas the farewell he deserves, and to allow Xavier the time to grieve without the weight of work pressing down on him.
Every donation is not just financial—it is a gesture of love, a recognition of a boy whose life, though brief, was extraordinary.
Atlas Grey Mendez, you were ours, and we will carry you in our hearts for eternity.
We ask for strength to endure, for courage to face the coming days, and for the comfort of your love, friends and family, as we navigate this impossible loss.
Our boy has gone from this world, but his light will never fade.
We love you, Atlas, more than words could ever hold.
Even in our brokenness, we promise to honor you, to carry forward your joy, your courage, your light.
We will speak your name, tell your stories, and keep your memory alive in everything we do.
Atlas, you were a gift, a miracle, a reminder that love knows no bounds, that bravery can exist even in the smallest of bodies, that joy can bloom even in the darkest of times.
Though our arms are empty, our hearts are full of you.
And though our tears may fall endlessly, they water the seeds of love you planted in our lives.
Rest, sweet boy.
Rest in peace, surrounded by the love you gave and the love that will never cease.
We will meet again, and until that day, your memory will be our guiding light.