Max was born on Feb. 11, 2016 in Brooklyn, NY and passed away peacefully in his parents arms at the age of 2 ½ on August 7, 2018 at St. Mary’s Hospital for Children in Queens, NY.

Max was diagnosed in July 2016 with a neurological disorder which left him in and out of New York Presbyterian Weill Cornell Hospital for much of his life. In January of 2018 it was determined that Max was only one of four children in the world with a very rare genetic mutation, and of those four, the only child in the United States. Max was moved to St. Mary’s Hospital in March 2018 and was there until his passing.

Max is preceded in death by his grandmother, Jodi DeMarre of Lindstrom, MN. He is survived by his parents Adam Valle and Jenna Heller (Brooklyn, NY); sister Amara Valle and brother Dylan Blank; grandparents Norberto Valle of New York City; Carol Clark of Morrisville, PA; Al Heller of Cottage Grove, MN; great grandparents Duane and Phyllis DeMarre, Lindstrom, MN and Bob and Carmen Heller, Cottage Grove, MN. Plus many aunts and uncles and special friends Julie Harting and Tiffany Miller.

A special thank you to all the staff at both Weill-Cornell and St. Mary’s Hospital for their loving care for Max over the last 2 years.