Keegen Scott Doty

Whether we are alive for many years or only a few, it is not the time we live that matters. What matters is the life we live in the time that we have. Though Keegen Doty's life spanned just four and half years, the impact he had on the people around him was immeasurable. He was so full of love and joy that even if you met him one time, you would never forget him. A courageous fighter until the very end, Keegen taught each and every person around him what it means to truly live.

On Thanksgiving Day in 2001, Jeremy and Heather (Bain) Doty certainly had plenty of things to be thankful for. They already had one beautiful little boy named Jacob, and Heather was expecting the couple's second child any day. But the holiday came and still no signs of their new bundle of joy. At last, one week later on November 29, Jeremy and Heather proudly welcomed the arrival of their newborn son, Keegen. Older brother Jacob beamed from ear to ear, excited to have a little brother he could take under his wing.

After a routine stay at Holland Hospital, Keegen and his parents were now at home in Holland, Michigan and enjoying the time getting to know one another. He was very happy baby and seemed to be growing just as an infant should, but by the end of January his parents began to suspect something might be wrong. When he was just two months old, he started having seizures and by April his parents knew his prognosis. Keegen had been diagnosed with a rare genetic brain disorder known as Canavan's disease, which affects the central nervous system of the young children who are born with it.

From the time he was diagnosed, Keegen remained happy and never let the disease take away his joy. In the years that followed he would be in an out of hospitals and doctors offices as his parent's did everything they could to seek the best medical advice and make sure that he received proper care. He also began attending the Infant-Toddler program at Ottawa Area Center, a school that meets the unique educational needs of children with mental impairments. And with the help of the Make a Wish Foundation, in September of 2005 Keegen and his family were able to spend a week at Give the Kids the World Village in Kissimmee, Florida so that he could experience the magic of Walt Disney World with them.

Everyone in Keegen's life, including his parents, brothers, Jacob and Sebastian, and grandparents, strived to make every day the best it could possibly be. When Heather took Jacob to see "Finding Nemo" at the movies, she noticed that Nemo had a handicap: one of his fins was smaller than the other. Immediately she thought that Keegen might be able to relate to Nemo, so she purchased the movie for him as soon as it came out on VHS. Heather was right and he eventually wore out several VHS and DVD copies of the movie watching it time and time again. After his diagnosis, Keegen's grandmother, Jennifer, even went back to school and made Canavan's disease her passion.

On July 1, 2006, Keegen died at home surrounded by the family who loved him so much and will miss him dearly. Just three weeks ago his parents welcomed their fourth child, Kaleb, into the world and Keegen was able to hold his little brother in his arms. It is very rare for people on earth to have an encounter with an angel, but for those who have they always say the same thing, the angel was there for only a moment before it was gone. In the four and a half years that Keegen was on this earth, he was so full of joy and had such a tremendous impact on all of the lives that he touched, to say that he was anything less than an angel would be wrong.

Keegen Doty, age 4, of Holland, passed away on Saturday July 1, 2006 at home surrounded by his family.

Keegen is survived by his parents Jeremy and Heather Doty of Holland; his brothers Jacob Bain, Sebastian Doty, and Kaleb Doty, all of Holland; his grandparents, Bob and Kim Bain of Holland and Dale and Jennifer Reutter of Pierson; his great grandparents, Fred and Phoebe Dykema of Muskegon and Doris Nye of Toledo Ohio; and several aunts, uncles and cousins and friends.

Funeral services will be held on Thursday at 3:00pm at First United Methodist Church, 57 West 10th Street with Rev. J. Lynn Pier-Fitzgerald officiating.

Visitation will be held on Wednesday from 2-4 and 6-9pm at the Dykstra Funeral Homes, Mulder Chapel, 188 West 32nd Street.

Burial will take place at Pilgrim Home Cemetery.

Memorial contributions may be given to Hospice of Michigan or Wings of Mercy.

Please visit Keegen's personal memory page at www.lifestorynet.com where you may sign the online guest book, archive a favorite memory, or view his Life Story Digital Film.