Mission Moment: Angels Making Difference for Kylei, Max

Kylei and Max lost their father and hero, U.S. Navy Petty Officer First Class Markus G., and thus leaving a huge void in their lives.

Since being enrolled in the Angels of America’s Fallen program, their mother has seen firsthand the value of the Angels and their network of supporters. She recently shared photos to show the impact the Angels program has made in the lives of her children.

“Thank you so much for the support and helping me and my family so much!” Kylei and Max’s mother wrote. “It is such a blessing!”

After Kylei completed her basketball season in an emotional day, her mother couldn’t be any more proud of her daughter.

“Kylei had such a great season!” her mother wrote. “She was crying when it ended in her last game.”

Max, Kylei’s brother, is also taking advantage of what Angels has to offer, and that has put a smile on his face as well as his mother.

“Max also was competing recently,” his mother wrote about his participation in mixed martial arts. “He truly loves it, and he takes it very serious.”

There are more than 16,000 children who have lost a parent who died as a result of military service since 9/11, and most of the children are very young at the time of loss (average age – 7). Statistics show that the children have a greater likelihood for depression, anxiety, poor academic performance, behavior problems, substance abuse, and even suicide.

Angels of America’s Fallen mitigates these risks by providing regular opportunities for participation in extracurricular interest such as sports, fitness, art, music, theater and other activities. Research demonstrates that feeling connected and engaged with at least two areas outside of family such as school/afterschool activities, positive peers, athletics, employment, religion, culture and the arts is a protective factor that can mitigate the risks associated with parental loss. (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Adolescent Health, April 2016)

Join us in honoring the long-term commitment Angels makes to children of the Fallen. If you are interested in donating or learning more about our organization, visit https://aoafallen.org/donate.