INDEPENDENCE, Mo – It has been almost two weeks since a deadly wreck claimed the life of 12-year-old year Damian Slayton, but there has been no funeral.
The family is struggling to raise money to bury him. They are also waiting for his mother to recover in the hospital.
The Slayton family never imagined having to suddenly find the money for flowers or a headstone for Damian’s funeral.
His stepmother, Teri Slayton, started a memorial fund more than a week ago to help with the funeral costs. However, the bank account is still nearly empty.
Slayton told NBC Action News she deposited $25 to open the fund on March 31. On Wednesday, she checked the balance because she wanted to buy a spray of flowers for the casket.
“And there wasn’t anything,” she said.
It did not make sense to Slayton. Her friends had told her they donated to the fund. So had friends and supporters on a Facebook page created called, “Justice for Damian Slayton.”
“I think it’s not so much that there isn’t support as it is there is some kind of glitch at the bank and we need to get it figured out,” Slayton said.
A representative at an Independence US Bank branch told NBC Action News it was unusual there were not more donations. Janet Hodowaine reminded people that donations cannot be made online.
Instead, people can stop by any US Bank location in the country and make a donation. They can also send a check and write it care of the “Damian Slayton Memorial Fund.”
There is still time assist the family. Damian’s mother, Bri Kneisley, is recovering in the hospital from the March 27 crash. Kneisley is reportedly struggling with her memory. Family members say they have to tell her several times a day that her son is gone.
http://www.nbcactionnews.com/news/local/story/Donations-Slow-to-Arrive-for-Boys-Memorial-Fund/C0wiS8PzeEe0C7lEc_VRZQ.cspx