Riverside, CA

Christian, age 61, passed away due to respiratory failure on October 03, 2024--just two weeks short of his 62nd birthday. He suffered a myriad of medical disabilities throughout his entire life; most remarkably, a premature infant who weighed 3 lbs. 14 oz. at birth. Due to a build-up of destructive RH factor antibodies, Christian required three complete changes of blood within two weeks after birth; the all-out effort to sustain his life, had begun.

In concert with blood circulatory exchange, a nutritional supplement was carefully introduced; during this life-saving process, Christan lost one precious pound of body weight. At then 2 lbs. 14 oz., Christian, along with highly dedicated military doctors and nurses, engaged in the battle to maintain his life.

Born in a small military field hospital in Zaragoza, Spain, baby Christian was immediately air-vacd to the large American hospital in Madrid; there, life-saving efforts continued for the next several months; at exactly three months of age and weighing only five pounds, Christian was finally able to be discharged from the hospital, in that he had gained sufficient strength to go home with his parents. As his family departed the hospital with Christian, military personnel--doctors and nurses alike, were tearful; due to around-the-clock, extraordinary medical care for three months, Christian had become ‘their’ baby; he was known in the hospital as “the miracle child”, in that against all medical odds, he managed to survive.

Christian was born to a U.S. Air Force military family, where his father--Harold Roy Smith, was stationed in Zaragoza, Spain. The Smith family resided there in neatly-groomed, off-base military housing, for nearly four years.

Christian’s father’s next change of military assignment was to Glasgow Air Force Base, Montana. During family residency there, Christian was medically diagnosed as being profoundly deaf; therefore, following two years in Montana, Christian’s father applied for a ‘hardship transfer’ back to the family’s home state of California, where they established residency in Riverside. Christian was then enrolled at the California State School for the Deaf (CSDR), Riverside, CA, where at three years of age, he became a student in the pre-school class at CSDR. .

Chris’ education at CSDR ranged from pre-school through the second year of high school; he then moved to reside with his father in Omaha, Nebraska, where he completed the last two years of high school at the Nebraska State School for the Deaf, Omaha.

Chris did not like the cold Nebraska winters; following his high school graduation at the age of 18 years, he returned to Calif., and enrolled in Riverside City College.

Christian has always loved the city of Riverside, and the people in it; he considered Riverside his permanent home, and finished out his life here for the next 44 years.

Christian is survived by his mother, Mary Janet Weathers; eldest brother, Michael Roy Smith; sister, Cheryl Lyn Smith-Winberry & her husband, Larry; and numerous cousins residing throughout the states. He was pre-deceased by his father, Harold Roy Smith; and youngest brother, Cameron Scott Smith.

Despite ongoing critical medical issues, Christian saw the world as a beautiful place. Profoundly deaf since birth, he was not impeded by his inability to hear nor speak. Chris was outgoing and self-confident; he loved life, and enjoyed each day to the fullest.

Christian dealt admirably with the adversities in his life; regardless of pain and suffering due to respiratory distress, he ALWAYS managed to offer a broad smile and helping hand to others. He was intuitive, thoughtful and kind; did not have a bad feeling toward anyone. Due to developmental disability, Christian was shielded, protected by family members; he was quite unaware of atrocities occurring in the world. His world was a happy place.

Chris did not want to die, his wish was to live as long as possible; in this endeavor, he struggled to prolong life. Due to very severe COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease), Christian spent his final two years moving between hospitals and skilled nursing facilities. During this period, he was hospitalized eight times in Riverside and/or outlying city hospitals; and seven times in different skilled nursing facilities located either in Riverside, or surrounding cities. Subsequently, Christian was discharged from Riverside Community Hospital, to ‘The Riverside Arlington Senior Community’, an assisted living center. With increasingly failing health, Chris necessarily continued to move between the assisted living community and further hospitalizations, for the next six weeks.

Christian’s courageous battle to survive came to an abrupt end at almost 62 years of age; his family has been advised that with consideration to such a difficult health history, that medically-speaking, age 62 is quite a substantially long life; however, it has not been long enough for Christian, nor for those who love him.

Even in adulthood, Chris always looked forward to his birthdays, in that our family celebrated all birthdays and major holidays, in a big way! Chris would have enjoyed his 62nd birthday in just two more weeks; however, he passed away before that could take place. The ‘Assisted Living Community’ staff then joined together with his mother, to sponsor a wonderful birthday celebration for Christian on his 62nd birth date--two weeks following his death. 100 residents, 15 staff members, and myself (mother), attended.

My beloved son, we have walked together through many years; we have enjoyed the good and faced the bad. Your decline these past two years has been so very hard, for us both; we watched you become increasingly weak, and oxygen-dependent…my heart breaks, because you never complained, nor reached out for help. You were a ‘silent’ sufferer; able to maintain your sunny disposition and heartwarming smile, to the end of life as you knew it, here on earth.

Words cannot express how much we--your immediate family, love and miss you, Christian--big brother Mike, sister Cheri & husband Larry, and mom. You were one of the ‘innocents’ in this world, a truly decent human being. As your mother, I am so very proud of your lifelong presence in our family; my beloved son, you have taught us a fighting spirit and resilience, beyond compare. Please save a place beside you, for me; until that day, you are omni-present in my life, and all who know you, here on earth.

A graveside service will be held in Christian’s honor on April 18, 2025 (Good Friday), at 11:00 A.M. Everyone is welcome! ’Olivewood Memorial Park’, 3300 Central Avenue, Riverside.