Chad Carr

If you want to understand who Chad Carr was, start with his favorite color: orange. He didn’t choose it randomly. He picked it because his big brother Tommy said it was his favorite. That says a lot about Chad. He adored his older brothers, CJ and Tommy, and he often shaped his world around theirs.

Chad loved music and dancing, especially if a song included the word “butt!” That’s life with older brothers. His laugh was contagious, and his cousins Drew, Sydney, and Casey felt more like sisters than extended family. Chad’s world was always full of people who loved him.

His food preferences were as bold as his personality. While many kids stuck to the usuals, Chad loved tofu, miso soup, olives, peppers, and pickles. Pizza was high on the list too. He tried the famous slices in New York, but nothing topped a bacon and olive round from Pizza House in Ann Arbor.

Chad found joy in the little things: stickers, crafts, hot tubs, Paw Patrol, Blaze, and “would you rather” questions. He loved helping his mom cook and playing sports with his dad. He dug for worms, laughed with his best friend Cooper, and had a soft spot for Bubba, Nini, Chuck E. Cheese, and just about every holiday on the calendar.

He dreamed of becoming an animal doctor. His two stuffed dogs, Barley and Frederick, were his constant companions. When Chad was diagnosed with DIPG, his neighbors wanted to grant him a wish. Chad didn’t hesitate. He wanted a dog. His family hesitated when he announced the name, but he was sure. The dog would be named Tootie.

Chad filled five years with more love, humor, and light than most people experience in a lifetime. His spirit lives on in every memory and every effort to bring hope to other kids just like him.