A Life of Love, Resilience, and Butterflies
Around the age of three, Maurice began having seizures. They weren’t just one kind—he experienced several types, each unpredictable and frightening. He fell often and eventually wore a helmet to protect his head. Despite this, Maurice still lost his front teeth from the falls.
Finding the right combination of medications was difficult, and while doctors explained he had a rare form of seizures, nothing seemed to bring full control. Alongside the seizures came behavioral challenges, and Maurice had to be watched constantly. Life with him was never dull—sometimes heartbreaking, sometimes even a little humorous. One unforgettable moment was when Mama opened the freezer to find the cat inside! Thankfully, the cat was fine, but it quickly learned to keep its distance from Maurice.
A Family’s Journey
School was especially challenging. Once, Maurice wanted so badly to go to school that he simply walked there on his own. The teacher called us, asking if someone could come pick him up. That moment inspired me to become a Special Education Teacher so that children like Maurice would always have someone to advocate for their needs.
As Maurice’s seizures and behaviors became harder to manage, our parents made the painful decision to place him in an institution where he could receive full-time medical care and support. We visited every month, and Maurice was loved by both the caretakers and doctors who surrounded him.
Over the years, his condition worsened, and eventually he became bedridden. Yet his spirit remained. On December 17, 2024, Maurice peacefully transitioned at the age of 68.
Maurice and the Butterflies
One of my favorite memories of Maurice was his love for butterflies. When he was about nine years old, he asked me, “Rosemarie, can we go catch butterflies?”
We found a jar, poked holes in the lid, and headed to the backyard where butterflies filled the air. Maurice carefully and gently caught them, placing each one into the jar until it was full. I asked what he planned to do with them. Maurice smiled and said, “Let them go.”
When he opened the jar, the butterflies poured out, flying free and unharmed. It was a beautiful moment that captured the essence of who he was—gentle, joyful, and full of wonder.