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A purple sky for Pappas
A purple sky above Fitch High School was filled with messages on balloons loved ones wrote to Maddison Pappas as they celebrated her 16th birthday without her.
Maddison died March 30 of thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura, a blood disorder causing blood clots to form in blood vessels, cutting off oxygen flow to various organs.
Her unexpected death left Maddison’s family and friends leaning on their community to help them celebrate her life, rather than mourn her death.
Sheila Green cried for the Pappas family, sharing a grim bond after losing her son just one week after Maddison’s death. Green’s son Christopher, 15, died of a breathing-related condition.
“I know what [they’re] going through, and it’s not something you want to imagine. I know just every day as a mother – they just need this support,” Green said.
Brandon Rucker, 16, and a friend of Maddison’s, said his favorite thing to do was to tell stories about her – recalling their adventures and keeping her memory alive.
“The support from everyone is wonderful,” said Shannon Pappas, Maddison’s mother. “It’s the only thing saving this day for me. We were dreading her birthday so badly, but knowing how much she would have loved this gives us reason to look forward to it again.”
Taylor Gregory, Maddison’s 20-year-old aunt, said it was hard to put it into words on her balloon, but said she was most grateful for the opportunity to watch Maddison grow in her short 15 years.
“Even though I’m the aunt, she was like my favorite sister, and I will never forget her,” she said.
Sarah Linton, 16, another friend of Maddison’s, mirrored Gregory’s feelings and said she was happy to know such an amazing person and friend.
“Today, we are celebrating the years she had here and the life she had,” she said. “We will make sure no one forgets her.”
Maddison’s memory is also living on through charity – something she was passionate about during her life.
She “just had the biggest heart,” Shannon Pappas said. “She would rather go without than see someone without.”
Those joining the vigil were asked for a small donation to help furry friends Maddison cared about most at Falcon Animal Rescue, 6520 Mahoning Ave.
Erik Pappas, Maddison’s father, said she would have loved the ceremony. Ava Pappas, Maddison’s 8-year-old sister, agreed, remembering releasing lanterns into the sky this past Fourth of July, which aligned into the shape of an M – something Ava saw as a sign from her sister.
Erik Pappas also suffers from life-threating glioblastomas, tumors that cut off blood supply in his brain.