Max Bengston-Belin

Max was a sweet, inquisitive, and fun-loving boy, who taught us to appreciate the simple things in life. He loved garbage trucks, fire trucks, and choo-choo trains. It was incredible to see the world through his eyes, to watch him grow, and listen to his stories. Our days were filled with laughter and goofiness, chasing each other around the house pretending to be dinosaurs or making music with pots and pans. He loved going to parks, riding his scooter as fast as he could and climbing on the playground. There was no better sight than the twinkle in his eyes and the apple-cheeked smile on his face when he was having fun. He brought so much joy and happiness into our lives and the lives of everyone he met.

Thursday March 3rd was a day like any other–we had a nice dinner talking and laughing with Max about our days, and he even ate all his vegetables! We did our standard bedtime routine, read him his favorite book, and kissed him goodnight like we had so many nights before. The next morning he never woke up.

We are heartbroken and miss him more than words could ever describe. We will cherish our memories of the amazing times with our amazing Max, and continue to honor and celebrate his short life.

There is still no medical explanation of what happened that night. We were comforted in finding the Sudden Unexplained Death in Childhood (SUDC) Foundation, which is dedicated to increasing awareness, funding crucial research into the causes and prevention of SUDC, and advocating for the needs of families affected by these tragedies. We wholeheartedly decided to participate in a SUDC research study whose purpose is to increase the understanding of the characteristics, circumstances, medical histories and pathologies of children from ages 11 months through 18 years who have died suddenly and unexpectedly. Eighty percent of SUDC Foundation’s annual revenues are driven by fundraising so if you have the means to make a tax-deductible donation in Max’s name, please consider doing so below.

The Bengtson-Belin family

We created a video in memory of Max. Go here to watch and remember.