Man steps up to help family in time of tragedy

The body of 7-month-old Ajia Mae Vincent has been returned to Carson City and will be buried at Dayton Cemetery at a service to be performed Sunday.

Ajia Mae died March 4, less than one month after receiving a liver transplant at Stanford Medical Center's Lucille Packard Children's Hospital. Her parents, Mel and Cyndi Vincent, could not afford to pay transportation costs to have her body returned to Carson City.

Carson City resident Larry Rackley recently drove to San Carlos, Calif., to pick up Ajia Mae and bring her back.

"Larry called within 30 minutes of our office opening and said he would fly to San Carlos to get her," said Bryan Cuthill, an employee of FitzHenry's Funeral Home. "But with fog in the area, he drove over and brought her home."

Cuthill said the family still is struggling, both emotionally and financially. Family friend Randi Wright said a fund has been established at Bank of the West to help cover medical costs. The account number is 248057580.

"As a member of the Carson City sheriff's aero squadron, I own an airplane, so I volunteered to do it," Rackley said. "Weather did not permit me to fly, so I drove down.

"It was something I needed to step up and do," Rackley said.

Born Aug. 8, Ajia was diagnosed in October with biliary atresia, a congenital liver disease. Biliary atresia is the congenital absence or closure of the ducts that drain bile from the liver.

FitzHenry's Funeral Home has donated the cost of the service. Carson City Florist is donating flowers and Dayton Cemetery has donated a plot for Ajia Mae.

While Ajia Mae was in the hospital, Warren Wood with Angel Flights in California flew the parents from Carson City to San Carlos so they could visit her.

"Most of the time it was Cyndi, but regardless, Warren flew them when they needed to visit," Cuthill said.

Mel Vincent welcomes the community to Ajia Mae's service.

"All the way around, people have done things for the family," Cuthill said. "Ajia brought a lot of people together."

IF YOU GO

What: Ajia Mae Vincent funeral

When: 10 a.m. Sunday at FitzHenry's Chapel of Faith, 833 N. Edmonds Drive