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In Memory Of
Leo Russell Babler
2014
2022
Leo Russell Babler
May 5, 2014 — Jan 14, 2022
Leo Russell Babler was born May, 5 2014 in Hudson, Wisconsin. After a perfect healthy pregnancy and divine Hypnobabies water-birth, his parents, Ryan and Lewann (Ihrke) Babler, were informed something was wrong with their 7 pound, 8 ounce sweet baby boy.
Leo was diagnosed with an ultra-rare and devastating condition, Rhizomelic Chondrodysplasia Punctata (RCDP), a form of dwarfism, which included a long list of symptoms and a heart-shattering grim prognosis. Doctors promised a short 2-5 year life, full of surgeries, illness, pain, discomfort and general hardship.
This fate was never accepted by Ryan and Lewann, who committed to giving Leo the healthiest and happiest life possible through a myriad of holistic measures and living for today.
He never spoke in words, rather with his effervescent smile, sparkling eyes, contagious laughter and seldom tears. Leo radiated pure joy and pure love with everyone he met.
His favorite place was outside. Anywhere the warmth of the sun could be felt, paired by sounds of the breeze between the pines. Nature was his happy place and moving to Colorado in 2019 provided the best years of his short life.
Leo never took steps of his own, but hiked close to 1,000 miles carried in the arms of mom and dad, always turning heads and charming fellow hikers. It isn't every day you see a grinning 16 lb little boy, beaming in joyful awe of nature, on trails at 7-12k feet elevations.
The summer of 2020, Leo's adventures were upgraded thanks to his parents building out a campervan in their Boulder, CO apartment driveway—providing countless days ending with "Best. Day. Ever." His last two years were full of dispersed camping and weekly day-trips all over Colorado, always including hikes followed by majestic mountainside picnics.
Leo passed away on January 14, 2022 at his home in Fort Collins, CO as peacefully beautiful and pain-free as one could imagine, held by his parents. He wasn't ill, his little body was simply exhausted.
He was fiercely loved and now missed terribly by many whose lives he touched, knowing him personally and virtually around the world.
His parents plan to immortalize Little Leo and his love for nature in a series of children's books. To honor Leo, they encourage thinking of him while out on a walk in nature or, if inspired, donating to his book fund below.
https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-immortalize-little-leo-the-adventurer
Leo was diagnosed with an ultra-rare and devastating condition, Rhizomelic Chondrodysplasia Punctata (RCDP), a form of dwarfism, which included a long list of symptoms and a heart-shattering grim prognosis. Doctors promised a short 2-5 year life, full of surgeries, illness, pain, discomfort and general hardship.
This fate was never accepted by Ryan and Lewann, who committed to giving Leo the healthiest and happiest life possible through a myriad of holistic measures and living for today.
He never spoke in words, rather with his effervescent smile, sparkling eyes, contagious laughter and seldom tears. Leo radiated pure joy and pure love with everyone he met.
His favorite place was outside. Anywhere the warmth of the sun could be felt, paired by sounds of the breeze between the pines. Nature was his happy place and moving to Colorado in 2019 provided the best years of his short life.
Leo never took steps of his own, but hiked close to 1,000 miles carried in the arms of mom and dad, always turning heads and charming fellow hikers. It isn't every day you see a grinning 16 lb little boy, beaming in joyful awe of nature, on trails at 7-12k feet elevations.
The summer of 2020, Leo's adventures were upgraded thanks to his parents building out a campervan in their Boulder, CO apartment driveway—providing countless days ending with "Best. Day. Ever." His last two years were full of dispersed camping and weekly day-trips all over Colorado, always including hikes followed by majestic mountainside picnics.
Leo passed away on January 14, 2022 at his home in Fort Collins, CO as peacefully beautiful and pain-free as one could imagine, held by his parents. He wasn't ill, his little body was simply exhausted.
He was fiercely loved and now missed terribly by many whose lives he touched, knowing him personally and virtually around the world.
His parents plan to immortalize Little Leo and his love for nature in a series of children's books. To honor Leo, they encourage thinking of him while out on a walk in nature or, if inspired, donating to his book fund below.
https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-immortalize-little-leo-the-adventurer
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