Adam Jay Richardson

It is with heavy hearts that we share the passing of Baby Adam Jay Richardson, affectionately known as AJ, who left this world on Tuesday, February 18, 2025. Born on June 30, 2022, in Festus, Missouri, AJ was a sweet boy whose vibrant spirit touched the lives of many.

AJ had an undeniable love for dinosaurs, farm animals—most notably cows— trucks, and cars. He delighted in playing with his toys, his puppy, Kya, and spent countless joyful minutes playing on his tablet or looking at pictures. Yet, what filled his heart the most was the love he shared with his family: his mom, Kayleigh Angle, his dad, Adam Richardson, and his siblings, Kynnedy, Lillian, Brynley, and Kayden. The bond they shared was a precious treasure that brought light and warmth to his days. AJ was lucky to have his mom stay at home with him and provide all the love and care that he needed. He couldn’t wait for his dad to come home from work because AJ would greet him with a big smile when he walked through the door. One of his favorite things to say was, “Bye see ya” as he would wave goodbye.

AJ's impact extended beyond his immediate family. He leaves behind cherished maternal grandparents, Kim and JR Roach, and Steven Angle; paternal grandparents, Raymond and Brenda Richardson; great grandparents, Brenda Eaton, Randy and Janice Eaton, and Phill Scott; aunts and uncles Lauren and Daniel Steko, Justin and Kiana Laramore, Zachary Angle, and Mike and Tonia Richey. The void created by his passing is felt not only by his family but also by very special great aunts, great uncles, and cousins who enjoyed the joy and laughter he brought into their lives.

AJ was preceded in death by his great grandparents, David Angle and Ruby Scott, along with his great great grandparents, Ronie and Mary Blair, and Herman and Betty Eaton. Though his time with us was far too short, his legacy will endure in the hearts of those who loved him.

A time of visitation will be held on Wednesday, February 26, 2025 from 4 to 8 PM at DeClue Funeral Home. Visitation will resume on Thursday, February 27th, from 9 AM until the time of his Funeral Service at 11 AM, held at the DeClue Memorial Chapel. AJ will be laid to rest at Redbud Memorial Gardens. 

AJ's Story:

AJ's life journey was marked by trials that tested his resilience from the very beginning. He was just a week old when we took him for his first check up. The nurse practitioner couldn’t find his body temperature. We told her he didn’t want to eat very good for us the day before. She immediately sent us to Parkland ER. Parkland struggled to find his temperature and when they did it was only 93. They noticed AJ was then lethargic and not wanting to respond unless stimulated. They decided that AJ needed to be transferred to Children’s Hospital. Once Children’s air vac team arrived they had to place AJ on a ventilator because of him not breathing well. Children's Hospital immediately started testing to find the cause of AJ’s symptoms. AJ had tested positive for rhinovirus and he rapidly started to decline. The team at Children’s decided to do a spinal tap and that came back as him having enterovirus myocarditis and meningitis. Enterovirus myocarditis is a rare but severe disease in the neonatal period, which often leads to death or results in serious chronic cardiac sequelae like chronic heart failure, aneurysm formation within the left ventricle and mitral regurgitation. On the third day, AJ was sent to the heart center and placed on ECMO. ECMO is a temporary heart and lung machine that circulates blood and oxygen throughout the body, allowing a child’s organs the chance to rest and recover. AJ had his ups and downs even once placed on ECMO but was able to be taken off ECMO at almost two weeks. He was also placed on a heart transplant list, in case things didn’t go well and was not able to recover on his own. After one week being off ECMO, AJ has started to have some complications and was placed on a ventilator. AJ’s heart rate started increasing causing some cardiac arrhythmia and developed a bacterial infection. Cardiac arrhythmia occurs when electrical impulses in the heart don't work properly. The next couple of days the doctors and their team continued to watch baby AJ and not make any big changes due to the bacterial infection and increased heart rate and let the antibiotics start working to fight the bacterial infection. The antibiotics did not improve his situation. He was placed at the top of the heart transplant list. AJ received a LVAD which is a mechanical circulatory support device-a device that helps pump blood from the lower chambers of your heart to the rest of your body. During this time, AJ had several other complications while being hospitalized. He suffered a stroke and had numerous infections before receiving his new heart. 

AJ received his new heart on December 30, 2022. The transplant went very well and we were able to bring AJ home on January 17, 2023. In 2023 AJ was admitted to the hospital several times due to viruses but he fought through them and celebrated his first birthday at home with family. AJ received a lot of therapy (occupational, physical and speech) at home throughout the year. 

In 2024 AJ experienced heart failure in April and May and had an extended stay in the hospital. AJ, again, fought through the complications and came home for a little while. Unfortunately, he was admitted to the hospital again for viruses and spent his second birthday in the hospital. He was released in July and was able to avoid future hospital stays. However, he continued therapy at home along with taking several daily medications.