Brendan S McCarty

Brendan Sheamus (Shea) McCarty was born on November 18, 2014. He spent eleven years loving his family, extended family, and friends, and teaching those around him so much about patience, perseverance, kindness, love, and finding joy even in difficult circumstances. On December 22, 2025, he passed away peacefully at home, surrounded by love.

Shea had a playful, mischievous spirit and a way of bringing lightness into everyday moments. He delighted in pushing his siblings' buttons, always with a twinkle in his eye, and loved his family deeply. He picked out his Halloween costume the week after Christmas and counted down the days until October 31st. He loved trips to the beach, going fishing, and especially enjoyed coffee dates, where he ordered his drink just the way he liked it-decaf, two sugars, and half and half.

Shea loved coffee so much that during hospital stays, one of his favorite outings was leaving his room to go down to the hospital lobby for a cup of good coffee. When he realized the coffee shop closed in the evenings, he came up with a solution. Shea said he wanted to have a food truck that sold coffee and healthy snacks that could stay outside the hospital doors at night for doctors, nurses, patients, and families who were there after hours. He asked his doctors which snacks were the healthiest and decided he would only charge fifty cents for things, because he knew not everyone could always afford healthy food. To make that possible, Shea planned to tow a trailer filled with arcade games so people could come play, be happy, and help offset the cost - allowing the coffee truck to stay affordable for everyone.

One December, Shea noticed a plain-looking adult guinea pig at a pet store and asked, "Can we adopt him? He isn't cute and little like the other ones, and everyone deserves a home for Christmas." That guinea pig came home with Shea and turned out to love sitting with him for as long as he was allowed-quietly keeping him company.

One of the last things Shea said was, "Do you know who I love?" When asked who, he answered, "Everyone - and me." That was Shea.

Shea lived with MELAS, a rare mitochondrial disease caused by a genetic mutation that had never been seen anywhere in the world before. His medical journey was complex and often challenging, but he was met every step of the way by extraordinary care. His family is deeply grateful to his home nurses, medical team, therapists, and teachers, whose brilliance, persistence, and humanity gave Shea comfort, dignity, and the best possible quality of life.

An informal celebration of Shea's life will be held on January 9th from 3:00–6:00 p.m. at the Newport Assembly of God Family Life Center. Children and children at heart are welcome to wear costumes, as Shea would have loved this. Guests are also invited to wear orange, his favorite color. Rather than a sit-down meal, there will be a buffet of Shea's favorite snacks, along with children's activities, and space to share stories - to laugh, to cry, and to remember Shea together.

In lieu of flowers, donations toward a small memorial garden will be collected at the celebration of Shea's life, so his memory can continue through beauty and small acts of kindness.

Shea's life was brief, but his love will continue through the love he gave and the lives he touched.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made toward a small memorial garden so Shea's memory can live on through beauty and small acts of kindness. Contributions can be made at the celebration of Shea's life or online at:
https://gofund.me/4617d57a2