Colton Isaiah Malinowski Obituary (1998 - 2024)

How does a mother write her firstborn son's obituary? How do I convey all that he was to us, all that he always will be long after he becomes only a memory to everyone else? He was born with a very rare and selfish disease that doesn't present with symptoms until late puberty. Myofibrillar Myopathy, Desmin affects cardiac, skeletal, and smooth muscle. MFM took his life a piece at a time. It was relentlessly progressive. It reared its ugly head when he turned 19. He knelt at my bedside holding my hands silently crying as I told him what his future would hold. For the next 6 years we all watched as it slowly took away his abilities. We all vividly remember each day when he could no longer shift his motorcycle, drive his car, maneuver stairs, walk, eat, breathe. Imagine for a minute, just one minute, going through those losses when only in your early 20s. Now we kneel at his bedside holding his hands silently crying. He was a beautiful independent child with an uncanny ability to MacGyver anything he could put his hands on at a very young age. He could create from many mediums and was meticulous about it. Every obstacle allowed him to build or create the thing that would help him to overcome. He loved being able to share his creativity with anyone he felt needed help. He was never without his beloved and fiercely loyal dog, Jackie, and surrounded himself by nature. He planted native plants in his yard, being one of the first to have a natural lawn, much to the chagrin of a few neighbors. He was chosen as one of the welders from Tech to help an artist build the Fruits Of Labor piece on 13th and Holland as well as the abstract wall on West 12th Street. He was fortunate enough to meet Connie, who saw in him not his disease, but his talent and drive giving him the opportunity to use his skills to create beautiful arrangements. MFM took Colton and left in its wake a path of pain and unfathomable loss, but it also left us with newfound patience, dogged faith and determination. It strengthened our bonds with family and friends and taught us the importance of breath, slowing down and appreciating life, how to honor the environment, cook intricate meals, strip 3-ply tissues and know there is nothing wrong with eating fresh snow. Gifts we will keep with us for the rest of our lives. Thank you for your support, understanding and love. Especially to his younger siblings, Alanna, and Samuel; and cousin, Samantha, who were his best friends & caregivers. The pride I have in each of you is immense. Thank you to his love, Quinn Johnson, who was his sole confidant; to his dad, Bob Joyce, who loved him so much and gave him his home; grandma and grandpa, who called and sang him a song EVERY day; my sisters, who were always patiently there; Saint Gregory in Pittsburgh, who volunteered a week of their own time to outfit his home so he could continue to live independently; to Hunt of A Lifetime; to my girls at work and unit 5 nurses; to Dr Joseph Lunn and AseraCare staff, who helped give him the comfort he needed; and to those of you who reached out or just thought of us. What peace you gave us all, so we knew we were not alone. No more anger, betrayal, or pain, Colton. Breathe deep, run free and know we will always answer your clap. Family and friends are warmly invited to call at the Dusckas-Taylor Funeral Home & Cremation Services, 5151 Buffalo Rd. (at Hannon Rd. in Harborcreek Twp.) on Friday, February 2nd from 5 to 7 PM. In lieu of flowers, gifts may be made to the National Forest Foundation in memory of Colton Malinowski, Bldg 27, Ste 3, Fort Missoula Rd, Missoula, MT 59804 or online at nationalforests.org.