Maximus Daniel Janton, a boy known for his friendly “hello,” his bright smile and beautiful brown curls, was born on July 24, 2011 to us, Dan and Keri Janton of Sugar Hill, GA. There have never been two prouder, more smitten parents. Max’s life was sprinkled with challenges, but those were heavily outweighed by his special gifts.
Max was born with Costello syndrome, making him 1 in 30 million. The syndrome comes with feeding and gastric issues, cardiac issues, nystagmus, an increased risk of cancer and various delays. This sounds scary - and it was - but trust when I say his days were good -- no, they were magical. Taking care of his medical needs became our routine and he was indifferent to it. When he didn't feel well, I'd venture to say he was a better patient than most typical kids when they're sick. He rallied like no other. We always knew he was fragile, we were always aware of the risks, but fear did not occlude our happiness. Max was infectiously enthusiastic, without an ounce of self-consciousness, just perfectly pleased to be himself. He made us proud every single day and that pride continues to grow.
Max loved many things, but he loved people most of all. He loved being out and about and greeted everyone, even strangers, with over-the-top enthusiasm. He especially loved Kroger, where he’d sit in the seat of the grocery cart squealing “Hi! Hi, guy! Hi, sir!” He was a collector of friends.
Max’s community was vast, from school friends, to therapists, doctors and neighbors – he was loved and loved well. Max was adored by his entire family and family friends. He was the biggest personality in the house, the loudest, most cheerful greeter at the door and the sweetest, most sensitive soul to ever say goodnight prayers. He shared a very strong, very affectionate bond with Duke and Beau, his younger brothers and best friends, and a pure, all-consuming, life-changing connection with us, his parents.
Max attended preschool for two years at Roberts Elementary in Suwanee and attended kindergarten at Riverside Elementary in Suwanee. He adored his teachers and friends and loved riding the school bus. Big walks with his family, riding in his toy car outside and talking with his favorite neighbors were some of Max's favorite things to do each day. He also loved music, especially Mumford & Sons. He even got to see Mumford live at Music Midtown in September 2017.
Max had heart surgery on October 24, 2017 to repair his mitral valve. It was the second surgery he'd ever had. The first was for his gastric feeding tube placement at 3 months old. We always felt fortunate that Max didn't need more surgeries, as there are many, many operations and procedures that are common for kids with Costello syndrome. We were terrified about the heart surgery, but our team assured us the success rate is incredibly high and most every child rebounds exceptionally well afterward. This opinion was supported by second and third opinions from other children's hospitals. While that's not enough to quiet a parent's fears, we knew we had no choice. The surgery was necessary and urgent. We prayed Max would be like the majority of patients and thrive.
Though the surgery was seemingly successful, Max had a massive stroke that was not detected until 24 hours after surgery. Our precious boy went to heaven on October 27th, 2017. There are no words to describe our shock, disbelief, confusion and pain.
The bright, beautiful world we knew has dimmed significantly, but in our best moments, we focus on the theme of Max’s life: happiness. Max Janton was radiant. Every day with him was treasured, every moment filled with love and every prayer was filled with thanks for his precious, magical presence. He was an amazing boy, a gift that spread delight and changed so many lives for the better. Our mission is to ensure his legacy of love and magic endures forever. We hope you'll join us.
Read Max's 2015 Feature in the AJC HERE