A Mt. Juliet family has struggled to raise the funds needed to pay for a headstone for their son who passed away nearly three years ago.
Jason and Desa Skaradowski lost their middle son, Colby, to suicide in 2014 when he was just 13-years-old. He would have turned 16 a week ago.
Aside from his parents, Colby left behind a newborn sister, who is now three-years old, and two brothers, Chandler and Tyler.
"I was there. I saw everything," said Tyler Skaradowski, Colby's older brother. "It was tough, it's still tough."
Tyler said he and Colby often skateboarded together, and supported each other when they both went out for wrestling.
"We did everything together. Anyone who knew Colby knew he was good at skateboarding," Tyler said. "If it wasn't me and Colby, it was Chandler and Colby."
On January 17, 2014, Colby died in his bedroom at home. His family still did not know why, and they say they likely will never have a reason.
Instead of seeing him grow up, a picture collage has hung in the living room of the home they chose to rent following Colby's death. They said it was a reminder of Colby's smile and spirit.
"I like looking at pictures," Tyler said. "It kind of inspires me to carry on."
But carrying on has been tough for emotional and financial reasons. The unexpected cost of a funeral, headstone, and moving out of the home that was too painful to continue living in has created a debt the family wasn't prepared for.
That's why Colby's grave has remained unmarked, nearly three years after his death
"I feel bad that after all this time we still haven't accomplished that," said Colby's father Jason. "It's hard to go to his site and see all the other headstones."
A family friend created a GoFundMe page to help the family cover burial costs. Nearly a year later, the account is still about $6,000 short of its goal.
"The fundraiser is extremely important," Tyler said.
The family has ordered a custom headstone in the shape of a skateboard to memorialize Colby - a memorial they said would have made Colby smile and help them remember happier times shared as a family.
"I miss him. I love him," said Colby's younger brother, Chandler. "Thank you for all the good times."
If you'd like to donate to the Skaradowski's GoFundMe page go to this link: gofundme.com.
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