11-year-old boy holds heartbreaking sign for help to ‘bury mama’ for two days straight
An 11-year-old boy spent two days stood on the side of railroad tracks holding a sign that reads: "Please help bury my mama."
The boy, known as Kayden, from Lindale, Georgia, is grieving his mother, Shannon Mount, who died on 16 July after going into cardiac arrest and spending days on life support.
A GoFundMe fundraiser in support of Kayden and his wishes has been set up by Jennifer Fife, the cousin and now-guardian of the young boy.
She wrote: "On July 8th Shannon Mount went into cardiac arrest, her boyfriend did CPR until the ambulance got there.
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"They shocked Shannon and got her back and she was on life support until today when she coded.
"Shannon did not have life insurance, she has an 11 year old that is left without the only thing he ever knew. He has been standing on side of the road for 2 days with a sign to help bury his mama."
At the time of writing, over $60,000 (£46,000) has been raised - surpassing Fife's goal of $7,100.
The fundraiser intends to cover her funeral costs, however, Fife says that any extra donations would all be going to Kayden.
She wrote: "With all the extra donations, his aunt Jessica Davis and I would like to make sure Kayden gets to do things children his age gets to do, sports, camps, etc.
"Today we took him to Walmart so he could get a bed set and he got a few things he needed. When we were leaving his aunt asked him, 'why are you so happy?' and he replied.. 'me and mama didn’t have much money we were poor, and I didn’t get to go buy stuff like this'."
"And all this baby got was a bed set, tooth brush, pillows and pillow cases. He is so thankful."
An obituary for Shannon explains that she has left behind three sons, two daughters and a grandchild.
It also reads: "Shannon was a straight shooter. She didn’t sugarcoat anything and was always ready to tell you off if you needed it. She loved her kids fiercely, even when life got messy.
"Her dog Mutt was her loyal companion, and the "ding ding" machines were her guilty pleasure, feeding her love for money and the thrill of winning.
"Nature called to Shannon, and she answered. Animals, the great outdoors—those were her sanctuary. She loved her boyfriend, her friends, and anyone who crossed her path.
"She never met a stranger and tried to help everyone she could, even when she was wandering, never really settling down. A drifter by nature, she felt at home everywhere and nowhere."
They added: "She wouldn’t want anyone to dress up her life to be what it wasn’t. "She was raw, real, and unapologetic. She wasn’t a perfect mother or housewife, but she tried her best.
"Shannon was a rambler, a soul always searching, and she lived her truth, no matter how rough the edges were."
Good Shepherd Funeral Home will be holding her funeral on Saturday (27 July).
Kya Buller