Jaivaun Francis

The Francis family is saddened to announce the passing of our son Jaivaun Jeuerda Francis on 7-11-22. Jaivaun was the third son born to Pricy Vidal Francis and Jeureda (Ryan) Francis on October, 7th 2007 in Brooklyn New York at Brookdale hospital. He was christened at the Shrine Church of St. Jude R.C church in Brooklyn on December 16th 2007 with his Uncle Ken Vidal and Leah Nolden standing as his godparents. He joined a loving family of two older brothers, Jaiden & Jailan Francis who would grow to be his friends, role models, and caregivers during his lifetime.
Jaivaun loved school, music, his iPad, Mario Kart, Wii sports, Mickey Mouse clubhouse, Super Why, Nature Cat, water, bubbles, going for drives in the car or walks in his wheelchair. He loved his family, and loved seeing us together around him. He loved playing with magnetic letters, arranging them to make words and then spelling them out. He also loved to write, color and dance even if he only had movement from the hips up, and he loved going on the bus to school. He loved attending activities and watching the other children play and run around.
In 2010 at 3 years old, he started school at United Ceberal Palsy (UCP) of Brooklyn. There he flourished making an impact on all whom he came in contact with. After the ‘big’ seizure in 2018 when he suffered brain damage, he attended IHope for a few months. But in November of 2019 he was again hospitalized with respiratory distress and a broken thigh bone. After which he remained home. Then Covid hit and schools went remote, so Jaivaun continued to attend IHope remotely, once again excelling with his teachers and therapists. He received the award for being a “zoom rockstar”. He communicated with his teachers and therapists using his Tobii Dynavox communication device. This device uses his eyes to help him communicate his needs, but even this was tiring form him at times.
His medical struggles began when he was about 3 months old, and got progressively worse over the years. Jaivaun was diagnosed with several medical conditions; TBI (traumatic brain injury), Seizure disorder, spastic quadriplegic cerebral palsy, severe neuromuscular scoliosis, restrictive lung disease, complete ventilator & oxygen dependance, asthma, low muscle tone, global developmental delay, areflexia, hypotonia, hip dislocations, sleep apnea, chronic respiratory failure, minimal diaphragmatic excursion, & probable mitochondrial disorder.
He had two surgeries in 2017, 5 days apart, one for a tracheostomy (breathing tube) and the other for a gastrostomy (feeding tube). He spent over a month in rehab at the Children’s Specialized hospital in New Jersey before being
 discharge to home with nursing services, because he now needed higher level of care.
After suffering a seizure in school in May of 2018, Jaivaun suffered brain damage and lost the little speech and movement that he had. He now required 24/7 care because he became completely dependent for all his daily living activities. He was unable to do or say anything on his own, and needed a nurse and us to care for him.
Jaivaun went home to be with God on Monday, July 11th 2022 at SUNY Downstate ICU.
Jaivaun is survived by his parents Pricy and Jeureda Francis and his older brothers Jaiden & Jailan Francis. Grandmothers Gertrude Vidal and Petepha Philogene.
Uncles: Ken & Hendue Vidal, Randy, Evo, Eddie & Dean Francis, Angus Mills. Aunts: Kendra Philogene, Marian Olivacce, Lauren & Tiffany Francis, Jacqueline Mills.
Cousins: Eliana, Nathaniel & Oliver Vidal. Julenne, Julina & Julissa Olivacce. Russel, Sophia, Sariah, Lovey & August Francis. Violet Lee Shue. Josh Hector, Shervernice & Shervona Mills
Aunts in law: Delphia Vidal, Bernadette Mendoza Vidal & Tessie Francis. Uncle in law: Julian Olivacce & Angus Mills.
Godmother: Leah Nolden
Other family: Juliette Dangleben & family, Donna & Annabelle Gerez, Agnes Smith-Serrant & family, The late James Henderson & family, Joseph & Cameron George, Jack Fagan. The Vidal, Etienne, & Defoe families in Dominica.
Notable mentions: Alesha George (nurse), Ketrina Hazel & family. Marybeth Frey. Natasha King, Kali, Nerissa who helped us with planning. His teachers, therapists & staff of UCP Brooklyn & IHope.
NY Presbyterian hospital medical team.
Pediatrician Sharon Ogiste-Mcbain
Jaivaun leaves to mourn many family and friends too numerous to mention. Special thanks to all those who have supported us throughout the years of his life. We are extremely grateful.
 

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