PEYTON RILEY McCARTHY

McCARTHY

PEYTON RILEY McCARTHY age 7. Cherished son of Nichole (nee Brichta) and Martin McCarthy, Jr. Beloved brother of Caitlin, Mackenzie and twin brother Kyle. Loving grandson of Kathleen (nee Guilivo) and Paul Delewski, and Martin McCarthy, Sr., Janet and Richard Brichta. Great grandson of Emil and Cathy Guilivo. Special nephew, cousin and friend of many.

Peyton Riley was our miracle man.  He and his twin, Kyle, were born in Glendale, Arizona at 28 weeks.  Peyton was born at 10:01am, July 21, 2012 and immediately his fight began.  He defied odds the moment he took his first breath and continued to defy them until the moment he took his last.  Peyton spent the first 279 days of his life in 3 different hospitals spanning 2 states, across the country.  He had the chance to quit multiple times, but in true warrior fashion, he never gave up.  Facing a congenital heart defect, chronic lung disease, severe brain damage which left him completely nonverbal, and quadriplegic spastic cerebral palsy which left him wheelchair bound… anyone with less strength would have succumbed to any one of these conditions; but not Peyton.  Peyton stared death in the face and laughed it off.  His smile lit up every room he was in.  His infectious laugh brought joy to all who heard it.  Peyton became a local celebrity at both UCP of Greater Cleveland and Cleveland Clinic Children’s Hospital.  He got the VIP treatment every time he was brought through those doors.  We knew that there was going to be an admission that ultimately would be his last.  We told Peyton multiple times that when he was too tired, it was “ok”.   He just needed to let us know.  But Peyton was stubborn like the rest of his family, and did things his way.  Even the doctors during rounds would tell the team, “Peyton will let you know what to do.  Forget the books.”  Peyton knew what he wanted.  He didn’t want to end in the hospital.  He wanted to come home.  He wanted to sit on the deck with the sun in his face.  Feel the wind blowing through his crazy curly hair.  He wanted to float in his pool while his brother and sisters splashed like crazy.  He wanted to sit courtside to watch his biggest sister play volleyball.  He wanted to go to the ball fields and watch #3 throw strikes and hit homeruns.  He wanted to get bundled up and sit next to the boards and watch his twin brother skate after the puck.  He wanted to snuggle with his puppies on the couch watching tv.  Peyton lived on his terms.  The night before he passed, he looked at his sister and smiled as if to say, “Its going to be ok.  We got this.”  We tucked him in and kissed him goodnight and Peyton finished his story the way he wanted to.  For 7 years our miracle man changed the world.  He impacted the lives of everybody who knew him, knew about him and loved him.  In life, and now in death, Peyton’s footprint spans the globe.  We are all better people for having him here.  Rest in peace our Sweet P.

In lieu of flowers, contributions requested to the United Cerebral Palsy of Greater Cleveland, 10010 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, Ohio 44106 or the Cleveland Clinic Children's Hospital, 9500 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, Ohio 44195. Funeral services will be held on Saturday, November 2, 2019 at 7:00 PM at the funeral home. The family will receive friends Saturday from 2:00 - 7:00 PM at the A. RIPEPI AND SONS FUNERAL HOME, 18149 BAGLEY ROAD, MIDDLEBURG HEIGHTS, OHIO 44130 (West of I-71) 

GUILIVO - see McCARTHY NOTICE 

BRICHTA - see McCARTHY NOTICE

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