A Mandan Mom’s Grief-“He Always Came Over To Check On Me…”

Max Schaf always had his eyes on his mother Chantel

A protective, loving 12-year-old here in Mandan lost his life in a bicycle accident on October 2nd. Riding his bike was one of his many hobbies, besides baseball and football. With a smile from ear to ear, Max was a young man you instantly fell in love with. There is nothing in the world more beautiful than a mother and son together. Max was doing what he loved the most, pedaling his bike on his way to be with her at her workplace until tragedy struck. He never showed up, he was found at the Mandan skating rink. "You're a good mom" was one of the last things  Max had said to her.

"He kept coming over to check on me..."

I was witness to that, you see last year I met Chantel and Max at a Bismarck Larks baseball game. He brought a friend with him. Max was polite and excited as they rushed over to play at the kid's zone, on the other side of the stadium. As Chantel and I sat at a table, Max came sprinting over just about every 10 minutes - "He kept coming over to check on me"  A son's love for his mother.

My heart ached to its fullest when I talked with Chantel this afternoon. There is no way I can relate to the severe pain she is going through. How can time possibly heal? I understand that she has a group of close friends and her 16-year-old daughter Ana to be with her as much as they can - to wrap their arms around her. "He was such a great kid", Chantel told me.

I lost my mom back in 2010...

...and I see her face almost every night in my dreams - I try and hold on to all the special memories of "mother and son" moments. I'll never forget what she once told me.."That one day I will be together again with all the loved ones ( pets included ) I've lost in my life"  - I believe that- I really do.  Please stop what you are doing after you read this, and LOVE those people who are in your life, and let's all think about Chantel and wish for peace in her heart.