Memorial Fund for Grayson Arroyo-Smiley

Amazing Gray was originally diagnosed with brain tumors days following his 6th birthday. Doctors said he would likely survive only 2-3 years. From the start, Gray gave the word "Fight" a new meaning and we all began to beLIeVE in miracles; his passing will forever leave a hole in our hearts.

If you had the opportunity to be in Gray's presence, you know he had his own style. He would trash talk you while he defeated you in any number of games, then turn around and give you the biggest smile you ever saw or hug you ever felt. He enjoyed listening to music and when able, danced his own brand of hip-hop. As he got older, he referred to himself less as Grayson and more as "Captain Gray the Lord." If you had the opportunity to visit the Captain, he would bestow a special pirate name upon you. And it seems no matter how many treatments or complications he had, he could recall your specially chosen pirate name. Gray's wisdom and compassion were well beyond his 22 years.

Throughout his lifetime Gray had 29 surgeries, 21 of them were brain surgeries; 6 chemotherapy regimens, and countless appointments with doctors from California to New York. For 16 years his tumors were managed but the treatments and complications damaged almost every major system in his body. In the end, Gray's heart suddenly and unexpectedly gave out.

As you can imagine, along with sudden and eternal grief comes a substantial financial cost to his mom who has been his sole care provider and healthcare advocate for over 16 years. Out-of-pocket medical expenses for Gray are in the hundreds of thousands and we are raising money to help cover any outstanding amounts as well as the expenses related to Gray's memorial services. Any funds raised in addition to the amount needed to support his mom will be donated to the Amazing Gray Foundation.