R.I.P. Ian Riley Malone 1999 - 2004

[AlGore-08.com]

I know it's been awhile since I've posted at DU, but I wanted to let you know that Dylan and Christine Malone's son Ian passed away early Saturday morning.

Ian had a short but difficult life. He suffered profound neurological damage due to medical errors made during his birth. He was unable to suck, swallow or gag properly, which made it difficult for him to breathe without having the secretions suctioned from his mouth by machine, and required him to be fed by a tube through his abdomen.



Ian spent the first three months of his life in the hospital, then was able to go home with to family with the aid of almost round the clock home nursing care. But Aetna baulked at the cost and announced that they would no longer provide the care that Ian needed to stay alive. A company representative told the Malones that the only solution to their problem was to give Ian up for adoption, because the government would provide the necessary care.

Desperate to save their son, the Malones sent his story to every influential person they could think of. Against all odds, Ian's story reached Vice President Al Gore, whose personal intervention caused Aetna to restore Ian's care.

Dylan and his wife Christine are very active in the Washington State Democratic Party, and have spent countless hours working for state and national health care reform. We run AlGoreDemocrats.com together.

In lieu of flowers, the Malone family requests that donations be made to Hospice of Snohomish County 2731 Wetmore Suite 500 Everett, WA 98201

1. I hope Ian is in a better place

and that the Malones find peace in their troubled lives. They are nice people, and my heart goes out to them.

[moof]

2. That's a heart breaker

as the sig implies your safe from it all now Ian.

[ikojo]

3. Ian sure was a cutie! He looks like he had a gentle

caring soul.

So, so incredibly sorry for your loss.

May his memory be a blessing and bring you comfort at this time when you have faced this dreadful loss.

Peace be with you Malone family.

[xchrom]

4. ah that is sad

life is just not easy sometimes -- my thought's are with the malone family.
peace be with you, ian.

[DeposeTheBoyKing]

5. My condolences

I believe he is truly in a better place. My prayers go out to the family.

[SheWhoMustBeObeyed]

6. My deepest condolences

Ian and his family will be in my thoughts.

[solinvictus]

7. God, I'm sorry to hear this..

and even worse, it's telling that it took a figure of Al Gore's level to get an insurance company to honor it's commitment. Poor little guy.

[slinkerwink]

17. I agree....and that's why there needs to be better government watch

on those insurance companies so they won't get away with stuff like this.

[jobycom]

8. So sad. RIP. I remember the Republicans using this against Gore.

Gore is a saint, no Republican even rises into the "not so bad" category.

Sorry, Ian. You were born into a country that just doesn't remember how to love. Not enough to give a good medical care system, anyway. We all let you down, little guy. I hope some good will come from your life.

Thanks for the post, though it has brought me down. It also made me reach over and hug my five year old between sentences. Find good through the bad.

[rasputin1952]

9. This is a sad story...

I hope and pray that Ian's family finds the peace they deserve.

Ian touched all he met, and judging by the picture, he was a loving boy. May the family remember the good times they had with Ian, and may they find comfort in the joy he brought to others in his short life.

O8)

[Pithlet]

10. I'm so sorry.

That is heartbreaking. My deepest sympathies to Ian's family.

[AlGore-08.com]

11. Kicking this up for Ian's parents

Here's a photo of Ian and his parents from February 2004

[AlGore-08.com]

12. Kicking it again - - for Ian

Ian at 1 1/2

[Pale Blue Dot]

13. So sorry...

Please give the family a hug for all of us. :hug:

[Name removed]

14. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[NightTrain]

15. So sad....

My heart goes out to Ian's loved ones. :cry:

[flamingyouth]

16. RIP, Ian

:hug:to the Malone family and to all of Ian's many friends here.:hug:

[rabid_nerd]

18. .

:hug: ;(

[myrna minx]

19. What a sweetheart...rest in peace, dear Ian. n/t

[Mrs. Venation]

20. Children Are Gifts From God

Although Ian's life was short, he probably touched many people. I am certain his parents' suffering at his loss is beyond my comprehension.

Ian, little dude, play with abandon in heaven. Run, laugh, enjoy the beauty of a butterfly, and be happy, little man.

[Mrs. Venation]

21. CNN Has A Story About Ian's Passing

Here: http://info.netscape.com/fwd/mytopcnn/http://cnn.netscape.cnn.com/news/story.jsp?floc=FF-APO-1110&idq=/ff/story/0001%2F20040502%2F2046652704.htm&sc=1110