Atticus Jae Scheidenhelm

Our hearts are shattered and we are devastated to have to share that our sweet Atticus passed away tragically on Tuesday, June 23rd. Our families were able to say our goodbyes, and he died in our arms at Children's Hospital Colorado.

We are overwhelmed with gratitude for everyone involved in his care. From the ER team at Boulder Community Hospital and the amazing Flight for Life team charged with getting him to Children's, to the most compassionate, hard-working and dedicated team at Children's Hospital Anschutz, Atticus was cradled and cared for deeply.

Atticus was just 13 years old, with the vastness of the world at his fingertips. He was a precocious reader, was as smart as they come, and had a razor-sharp wit. His eyes sparkled with curiosity, and he was hungry for knowledge. He loved watching documentaries about times past, learning about new subjects, or arguing about the biggest, most mysterious ideas. He was a deep feeler, empathic toward those who needed empathy, and kind to strangers. He believed in social justice, and was an ally for people pushed to the margins. If you knew Atticus, you likely had at one time described him as a beam of light or the kindest person you knew.

Atticus was a determined boy. In 5th grade, without any training or previous races under his belt, Atticus decided he was going to try to win his age group at the Niwot Trot, our local 5K cross-country race. Atticus indeed finished first in his age group, and 17th overall (adults included) out of 502 racers. When he was nine years old, he decided he would teach himself to pitch, and spent hours every day in the backyard working on new pitches, his mechanics and his accuracy. That dedication led to Atticus being the most reliable and effective pitcher on his beloved Niwot Cougars baseball team. He averaged 72% strikes, and kept hitters off-balance with his six-pitch arsenal.

Atticus loved baseball. He loved watching the game, talking about the game, but most of all, playing the game. He could play catch until it wasn't safe due to waning light or practice in the backyard or the garage until he had blisters. He loved his teammates, and loved his team.

In an increasingly digital age, Atticus was a renaissance man, consistently choosing the outside over the couch, the pages of his books over screens. He could read for hours and hours on end. We always joked that his meals took forever because he was so deep in his book that he'd forget to eat. He loved playing make believe as a young boy, concocting grand new Star Wars adventures for him and his brother to act out. He memorized whole books when he was only two years old, and amazed babysitters when he insisted on "reading" books to them instead of the other way around. He was coachable and inquiring, loved by his school teachers and music teachers alike. He was a student who practiced and worked on his own, as he was determined to get better, always.

He was headed to Niwot High School in the fall, and was so excited for new opportunities and adventures. He planned to play baseball, run cross-country, and join the theater program, among other things. The staff at Niwot High School sold him hook, line, and sinker on high school being a time of exploration and redefinition. He was ready to explore because he was an explorer at heart.

Atticus was quite simply a bringer of joy. He was a consummate friend and teammate, someone who supported his people with unfailing dedication. He was a patient, giving, playful brother who would sacrifice his own whims to validate his brother Sage and make him feel seen. He was a devoted grandson, who could sit with his Nana, Pops, Grammie or Pa reading books, playing cards, or just chatting for hours.

He was our precious little boy, and we are heartbroken. We love you always, Atticus.

We will be holding a memorial to celebrate Atticus's life on Sunday, July 19th at 10 a.m. at one of Atticus's favorite places, the Biff Warren Baseball Complex. Biff Warren Baseball Complex is located at 6750 Nimbus Rd, Longmont, CO 80503. There will be a reception after the memorial at a location TBD in Niwot, CO.

Please consider a donation to GoFundMe to help with expenses.

Here is the link to the GoFundMe: https://gofund.me/cae3358d5