10 Years of Celebrating Aidan’s Life: How the Aidan Shea Foundation Honored His Legacy and Supported PICU Families

For the last ten years, the Shea, Robbins and Elmhurst family communities have gathered in honor of a boy whose life continues to inspire compassion and connection. Through the Aidan Shea Foundation, they have celebrated Aidan’s memory, shared his story, and supported meaningful programs at Lurie Children’s that reflect his generous spirit.

What began as a way to honor Aidan grew into a powerful community tradition that brings comfort, hope, and joy to the many who Aidan impacted.

Aidan’s Story

Until December 2015, Aidan was a healthy, vibrant 10-year-old who loved Greek mythology, swimming with the Oakbrook Tiger Sharks and spending time with family and friends. Aside from an occasional cold-related asthma flare-up, he lived an active, happy life.

The weekend his illness began was filled with all the things he loved — playing with his twin brother Connor and his 18-month younger brother Liam and friends, attending the Chicago Bulls family night, participating in religious education, and proudly swimming 32 laps during a Make-A-Wish swim-a-thon with his swim team.

But that Sunday afternoon, everything changed. During choir practice, Aidan was suddenly overwhelmed by a severe headache. When his dad arrived to pick him up, Aidan could no longer stand on his own. On the way to the hospital, he stopped breathing.

After being stabilized at Elmhurst Hospital, he was transported to Lurie Children’s, where emergency surgery revealed a catastrophic brain stem bleed. Despite the PICU team’s extraordinary efforts, Aidan never regained consciousness. With his parents by his side, he passed away on December 10, 2015.

Those four days at Lurie Children’s left an indelible impact on the Shea family — and planted the seeds for what would become the Aidan Shea Foundation.

In the weeks following Aidan’s passing, friends, family and the Elmhurst community rallied around the Shea’s, donating more than $30,000 to Lurie Children’s in Aidan’s honor. 

“Aidan only spent four days at Lurie Children’s, but they were four of the longest and most difficult days of our lives,” says Theresa, Aidan’s mom. “The doctors and nurses did all they could to help Aidan heal and, when healing wasn’t possible, they helped us let him go with compassion.”

During their time in the PICU, the family saw firsthand the number of children who did not have family members who could be by their bedside each day. Learning about Dr. Malakooti’s work to support these patients through Project Ignite resonated deeply.

“Project Ignite not only focuses on the immediate crisis, but also on the emotional and developmental needs of the children and families in the PICU. Those needs matter too,” said Theresa.

Supporting this work has been central to the Foundation’s mission since it began in 2015. Since that time, the Foundation has raised over $200,000 for Lurie Children’s in Aidan’s name. And hundreds of thousands of dollars for other charities which were meaningful to Aidan. The Foundation’s annual gatherings have helped keep Aidan’s memory alive while supporting causes that reflect the love and kindness he shared during his life.  Aidan’s parents know how very proud he would be of the all the good that has been done in his name.  The Foundation’s tenth and final event (at least for now) occurred on November 22, 2025.  

To learn more about Aidan and the Foundation’s work, visit www.aidansheafoundation.org.

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