CONLEY RHINEHART BOOM 2018-2019 An old aphorism states, “Life is not measured by the breaths we take, but by what takes our breath away”. Conley Rhinehart Boom was such a life. Before his birth, he was diagnosed with not one, but three rare genetic disorders: AVID, Dandy-Walker, and Hydrocephalus.
Because of this he was born two months early and weighed only 4 pounds 13 ounces, with most of that being his head. At one time, the doctors said that there was a 60% chance of still birth, a 90% chance he would die in the first week and a 99% chance he would die in the first month. Conley was born on December 21, 2018.
From his first moments, Conley was a fighter; and aptly so, as he was named for three black belts in American Kenpo Karate. He fought for his life as they transported him from the University of Utah to Primary Children’s Hospital, where they were finally able to help him breath properly. It was at Primary Children’s that he spent most of his short life.
While there, he had three different surgeries to help him sustain life. He learned to smile and talk and enjoyed many hours of snuggling and cuddling with anyone who wanted to hold him. Many who knew him and loved him never got to meet him as they followed his progress through Facebook.
He loved to listen to his parents read and sing to him. He got to hear Shakespeare, The Hobbit, many children’s books and even one written by his father, John Boom. He enjoyed looking at light and shadows and would reach for and grab toys.
His favorite of which being an octopus called Lucy. He loved his baths and hated a wet bum. Though he was a calm, happy, baby most of the time, he would let you know if something was not quite right.
He grew up to be the “old man” of the NICU at 4 ½ months old and almost 16 pounds, Conley was due to come home. Conley, however, decided that he was not long for this world and all plans changed. He spent his last 34 hours surrounded by family and being snuggled by his parents.
His last 16 hours we spend entirely without support. He was able to come home and spent his last moments in the arms of his parents, never to be put down until he was gone. Conley Rhinehart Boom died on May 7, 2019.
He is survived by his parents John and Amy Boom; his fur siblings Monty (cat) and Rosie (dog); his grandparents, Jim and Colleen Jones, Renee Monoit, and William and Sandra Boom; his great grandmothers Amy Jones and Sue Boom and his many surrogate parents at Primary Children’s NICU. He is preceded in death by his uncle Andrew Jones and his great-grandparents. His parents are fond of the book Love You Forever, and so their final words for him are: “We’ll love you forever, we’ll miss you for always, as long as we’re living, our Coco Bean you will be”.
Little Conley’s Funeral will be held Saturday May 11th at 2 pm in the LDS Bountiful 9th Ward Chapel, 585 E. Center St. in Bountiful, UT. All are welcome to attend. The viewing will begin at 12:30-1:30 p.m. in the afternoon.
Conley is to be buried in the Bountiful Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family is asking for donations of baby swaddle blankets for the Primary Children’s NICU. Services are gratefully provided by Lindquist’s Bountiful Mortuary.
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