Lisa and Mark White Sr. are currently living through every parent’s worst nightmare in their Williamsburg home. Their son, Mark Jr., was a miracle from the start, arriving at 23 weeks gestation and weighing only 17 ounces. He spent his two years of life proving everyone wrong by being a joyful, bouncy boy despite his health challenges.
That joy was cut short on April 25 when the toddler died unexpectedly. His parents are struggling to figure out how a child who survived so much could be gone in an instant. There were no warning signs and no recent illnesses to blame. The silence in their house now is a constant reminder of what they have lost.
When the autopsy results came back, they provided no comfort or clarity. The medical professionals found no explanation for why his heart stopped. For Lisa and Mark Sr., the lack of a medical reason is its own kind of torture. They are left with a million questions and very few answers about what happened that afternoon.
They are leaning heavily on the idea that Mark Jr. is now reunited with his sister, Violet. She was also a micro-preemie who died four years ago at the same tiny birth weight of one pound and two ounces. The family finds some solace in knowing the two siblings are together again. However, the grief of losing two children is a weight that is hard to describe.
The financial reality of their situation is making a bad time even worse. The family operates on a fixed income that barely covers the basics. Now that Mark Jr. is gone, their monthly assistance has been cut even further. They are trying to find a way to pay for headstones for both Mark and Violet so they can finally rest in peace.
Moving out of their current home has become a top priority for the couple. They feel like they are drowning in memories every time they walk through the door. The walls are filled with the history of a son who needed constant care and gave back constant love. They just want to move to a place where they can start the long process of healing.
They have put out a call for help, hoping that people will see their story and offer a hand. It is a humble request from two people who have spent years dedicated to the survival of their son. They are not looking for anything fancy, just enough to cover the bills and move on. They are just a mom and dad trying to survive the unthinkable.