By MIKE COURSON
Great Bend Post
All Taylor Sharkey can do now is share the love of her son with those around her. Kanyn Sharkey's unexpected death from medication complications last December not only stripped the one-year-old of his future, but also shattered Taylor's dream of being a mother. Taylor has used memorials made in Kanyn's name to purchase a climbing wall at the Brit Spaugh Zoo in Great Bend, and she recently teamed up with the Otis Fire Department for a new playset to be installed soon at the city park in Otis.
"I wanted to do something big that would be a good, heartfelt memorial for Kanyn so he would be remembered forever," Taylor said. "I had big dreams and aspirations since he was such a big and wild spirit. With everybody's help and donations, this has made that dream come true for me."
The new playground, for toddlers aged 2-5, is designed for an area 27 x 30 feet and will include a climbing wall and slide. Taylor's father, Mike, is a former fire chief in Otis and has been active with the department for nearly two decades. The Sharkey's have worked with city officials as the project will involve relocating a current swing set and adding additional lighting and cameras in the park.
Kanyn had a knack for climbing anything and everything. Taylor had a recliner by the window and the one-year-old was known to climb to the top to look out the window. Once, she thought it was safe to take a quick shower. She emerged to find Kanyn had climbed the Christmas tree. His proclivity for climbing earned him the nickname "Mountain Goat."
"He was absolutely feral," Taylor said. "He was as feral as they came. He was so full life, love, and energy. There were absolutely no bad days with that little guy. He climbed everything. There was nothing that didn't get climbed on in my house."
Taylor has been a vocal force about the struggles of losing a child on social media. The community response has been a large one. Friends and strangers have dropped off stuffed animals with soundbars featuring recordings of Kanyn's laugh, pictures, and wind chimes. Someone made a stuffed mountain goat out Kanyn's clothes. Another sewed remnants of one of Kanyn's blankets into a new blanket as a birthday gift for Taylor.
"I'm very thankful, grateful, and fortunate to have all the love and support I have from everybody," said Taylor. "There are people I didn't talk to for years who now check in on me once a week, once a month. There's one gal who sends me cards at least twice a month. I can't even articulate how much support there has been, and the heartfelt, genuine, customized gifts people have come up with. The amount of support is amazing."
Taylor, who lives in Otis, hopes to have a dedication ceremony for the new playground once it is installed so she can see the joy and memory of Kanyn with other families. She hopes to have the playground installed by Thanksgiving.