Dad and mom of boys who died within the zoo elevate cash to present kids’s glasses – CBS Pittsburgh

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) – In 2012, Jason and Liz Derkosh suffered an unimaginable loss when their 2-year-old son Maddox fell into the African Painted Dog Exhibition at the Pittsburgh Zoo and died.

“He is with us. We think of him every day, ”said Liz Derkosh.

Since then, they have focused their grief in helping other children. And now they are taking that help to the next level.

The Trucks For Maddox charity began when the couple asked for toy trucks to be donated instead of flowers for his funeral in memory of their son. They had planned to give the toys they received to other children.

What they did not plan to do, however, was pour out trucks that they had received. Thousands of toy trucks arrived at the funeral home.

“I can remember walking into this funeral home and it was just overwhelming. It was just everywhere and that saved us. It gave us a purpose – to have it and to package it. I mean, we’ve been doing this for a long time, “said Liz.

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To date, more than 16,000 trucks have been collected. Each one has a sticker that reads “From your friend Maddox Derkosh”.

All trucks are donated to local charities on request and replenished with additional donations each year. But now the Derkosh family is adding a fund to the Trucks For Maddox charity to help children with vision problems.

Maddox herself had to wear glasses at such a young age.

“I remember the news that he needed glass and how devastated I was,” said Liz.

The Derkosh family partnered with the Pittsburgh Children’s Hospital Foundation to create the Trucks For Maddox Optical Assistance Fund.

(Photo provided)

UPMC Children’s Hospital Eye Clinic in Pittsburgh sees around 10 children a month who have no insurance or money to buy glasses. This new fund could help provide glasses for up to 120 children a year.

“We’re going on a golf trip to raise money for trucks. So if the trucks keep rolling and we don’t use the funds to buy trucks, Jason and I said, “What do we do with these funds?” And Maddox wore glasses that made the most sense to us, ”Liz said.

Jason and Liz now have two daughters, ages 6 and 4. They know everything about their brother Maddox. They help put stickers on the trucks, hand out hats on the golf trips, and ask questions about him, making Maddox an integral part of everyday life.

“It is pleasant for them to ask these questions. And they’ll tell you all about him: “Yes, I have a brother and his name is Maddox.” And they will go on and on. You have no problem telling anyone about him. We want him to live forever, ”said Liz.

For more information on the Trucks For Maddox Optical Assistance Fund, including the donation, please visit https://www.givetochildrens.org/trucksformaddox