Holiday Heartbreak For South Florida Family

MIAMI (CBSMiami) -- It has been a heartbreaking holiday season for a South Florida family.  First the Marchesani family lost their 12-year-old son, then burglars broke into their home.

Dylan Marchesani was born with a condition called static encephalopathy.  He required around the clock care, couldn't see or communicate and was hospitalized much of his life, but that never affected the love the family shared.

"I would always rub his nose," said his father Darren Marchesani, "That was our thing, and squeeze his little finger and I swore that he would squeeze back."

"For him not to be there, there's a piece of me missing," said Dylan's mom, Theresa Marchesani.

On November 20th,  Dylan died. He was 12.

"I always said if my son were to die I wanted to be present and I wanted him to be surrounded by family and he was," said Theresa, adding, "We all prayed we prayed the guardian angel prayer I was taught when I was a little girl and when we said 'amen' he died."

"Now he's gone and it's only been a couple weeks. I think about him every single minute of every single day and I try to make life as normal as possible but it's hard," said Darren.

As if life weren't hard enough for the Marchesanis,  someone broke into their home Thursday. They say about $5,000 dollars of electronics were stolen including a TV, a PS3, XBox 360, and iPad mini which Dylan's 14-year-old brother used for school. The thieves also took a laptop that was full of photographs of Dylan and an iPod which was full of music he listened to.

"My Ipod was plugged into Dylan's room and they must have seen his picture, his urn. How dare you do that?" questioned Theresa.

"People have been amazing to us and then this happened," said Darren, tearfully adding, "No matter how much beauty there is there's always envy and there's always hate... now I can't leave going to work and she can't leave to get our kids without having to look over our shoulders.  No one should have to live that way."

If you can help this family, please contact Neighbors 4 Neighbors at (305)597-4404 or visit the Neighbors 4 Neighbors website.

Checks can be mailed to Neighbors for Neighbors at:

8900 NW 18th Terrace

Miami, Florida 33172

Memo note: Marchisani Family

The Quarterdeck in Davie is hosting a fundraiser with Rick Shaw Saturday from noon to 3:00 p.m. with proceeds going to the family.