This site is dedicated to Frankie and the life he lived. His Uncle
Kevin has set this up for all of us that knew Frankie to honor and
remember him and the special boy that he was. For those of you that
didn’t know Frankie, hopefully you will come to know him through the
stories, photos, and memories that are shared here. Please feel free to
post your own special memories of Frankie, be it words, song lyrics,
poems, or pictures. Hopefully, this place will help all of us heal.
Frankie was an 11-year-old boy who tragically died on Thursday May 25,
2006. He was playing a “game” known as “blackout, the asphyxiation
game, or the choking game”. We later learned that Frankie had learned
this from friends at school, and that it is far too prevalent amongst
our schoolchildren. Through Internet research, we discovered that
children as young as 6 years old have died doing this. It entails using
hands, a cord, or a cloth to cut off circulation around the neck. The
child becomes dizzy, releases the pressure, and then experiences a
“rush”. Unfortunately, Frankie was doing this alone in his room, and it
went too far. After heroic efforts on the parts of his mother, brother,
neighbors, paramedics, and hospital staff, Frankie’s life ended.
Please, please, I urge you, speak with your child(ren) about this
dangerous game, and help educate every single person you know so that
this tragedy can be prevented from happening to another family. It’s
devastating, absolutely devastating.
How can I describe Frankie? In this last year as he began his
transformation from boy to man, this adventurous, sensitive, kind boy
developed a passion for skateboarding, playing the drums, paintball,
swimming, the ocean, snowboarding, and wakeboarding. I’d like to share
a special memory of Frankie with you, but right now my head is spinning
with images of Frankie over the years, and all I can focus on at this
time is his big smile, and his huge, giving heart. Frankie was
sensitive, fun loving, adventurous, and so very kind to all those that
knew him.
Frankie, we love you and miss you so very much. Your life ended much,
much too soon. We will mourn you to the end of our days. You brought
laughter, kindness, and love to all of us that knew you, and your death
leaves a big hole in our hearts. Right now, we can’t imagine that hole
ever being gone. Frankie, as we think of you, we will always see your
big smile and your generous caring spirit. We love you Frankie. Now and
always.
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