INDIANAPOLIS - The obituary never tells the real story. Words can capture achievements and dates, but never the personality behind them. When a loved one dies, it's never easy on a family. And, when that loved on is just 17-years-old, the loss is especially cruel.
When young Christopher Rankin of Noblesville died last Saturday from muscular dystrophy, it didn't come as a surprise to anyone. That's the tragic reality of the disease's cycle. But, the grief is no less palpable.
You can only hope that they lived everyday to the fullest, as Christopher did.
The Muscular Dystrophy Family Foundation (MDFF) salutes the life of Christopher, his accomplishments and his legacy. Disease didn't stop Christopher from being a friend, a loving brother, a scholar, and a real character.
Staffers at MDFF were fortunate to get to know Christopher and his family since his diagnosis at age 7. MDFF provided equipment and emotional support for Christopher and his family during their toughest moments in the battle with MD. And, those moments seemed to stretch on and on.
MDFF's grief counseling for client families happens at every stage – when the client is diagnosed, when they begin to use a wheelchair, when they go on a ventilator, when they die, and beyond.
Judith Duncan, MDFF's President and CEO, regularly counsels families as a certified bereavement counselor. She understands the cycle of the disease and the struggle of the families. And, when all other agencies would stop providing service to families, she mourns alongside them.
“We consider these client families to be part of our MDFF family,” she says. “We've worked with them along the journey of the disease. Why wouldn't we help them now?”
Duncan will continue to offer counsel to Christopher's family in the weeks ahead and to hundreds of other families served by MDFF.
“I wish there were a cure for MD and we didn't see any more 17-year-olds buried, but there isn't one. We have to help them live the best life they can in the time they have and support all those affected by the illness, including families and friends.”
Bryan Lay, assistant technology specialist at MDFF, helped provide Christopher with a wheelchair, van lift, and ventilator. “If the adaptive equipment we help them get allows them to be mobile, go to school, and live more normal lives, then we've succeeded.”
Lay says what he'll remember most about Rankin is the young man's wit. “I like to joke with the kids and Chris could always give as well as he got. He might have been having a tough day, but you'd never know it by the way he joked with you.”
Funeral services for Christopher will be held at the First United Methodist Church, 2051 E. Monument St. in Noblesville this afternoon at 4 p.m. Burial will take place at the Crownland Cemetery in Noblesville tomorrow at 11 a.m.
And, you can be sure that Duncan will be there with a shoulder to cry on.
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What does MDFF do for families in case of a death
- Act as the families advocate with funeral homes
- Often pay for part or all of the funeral expenses
- Provide grief counseling to family for as long as needed
- Attend the calling and funeral (usually one staff attends each)
- Help family remove the equipment, which is either returned to MDFF or sent to another family
- Help family settle last medical bills
- Offer a shoulder to lean on and anything else the family needs
About the Muscular Dystrophy Family Foundation
Established in 1958, the Muscular Dystrophy Family Foundation (MDFF) is a national non-profit organization, headquartered in Indianapolis. MDFF provides adaptive equipment and emotional support to individuals and families affected by one of the more than forty neuromuscular diseases. MDFF does not conduct research and does not hold an annual telethon. MDFF strongly believes it is extremely important that each of its clients lives an independent and productive life each day. Having the proper adaptive equipment and emotional support available ensures that can happen for the families served by MDFF. For more information, please contact MDFF at (317) 923-MDFF or visit www.mdff.org.
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