Baby Thomas “Tommy” Lee West was born in Charleston, SC, on April 1, 2026. It was a bright Wednesday afternoon that seemed full of promise. Tommy was tiny and mighty with ten perfect fingers, ten wiggly toes, porcelain skin, and a full head of hair. Despite his premature arrival, his doctors and nurses were impressed by his strength and resilience. For ten hours, the NICU focused intensely on his care as we (his family) channeled our every prayer – every last whisper of hope – into the outcome of Tommy’s survival. Even still, he slipped away in the wee hours of Thursday morning.

Ten hours is a very long car ride, a grueling shift at work, a very good night’s sleep. But ten hours is a very short life. When Tommy’s heart stopped, it felt like time should have too. But it didn’t. And still hasn’t. And it won’t. But neither will his memory.

Tommy was preceded in death by his paternal great-grandparents, John and Mary West and his maternal great-grandparents, Raymond and Bertha O’Brien and Charlotte Myers. Though we cannot know what comes next, it gives us great comfort to imagine that they, in their warmth and wisdom, were there to greet him on the other side. Perhaps they took him in their arms, nuzzled his fuzzy little head and delighted in his sunshine soul.

Baby Tommy leaves behind his parents, Anne and Ryan West, whose love for him will last forever, and cannot be adequately represented by any known unit of measure. Oliver “Ollie” Joseph West (age 3) and Raymond “Ray” Cary West (age 10 months) are his big brothers (who aren’t very big at all). Though they will never get to run and play with him, tickle him or hear him giggle, they will grow big and strong knowing the story of their littlest brother, Tommy, forever just ten hours old.

In addition to his parents and brothers, Tommy is survived by his paternal grandparents, Kristi Atkinson West of Summerville and Stephen West of North Charleston; his maternal grandparents, Carolyn and Wendell O’Brien of Morehead KY; and great-grandparents, Richard and Judy Atkinson of Jacksonville AL and James “Jim” Myers of Logan, OH.

He is also survived by his uncles, Michael Parrish of Atlanta GA, Christopher West (Juliana) of Ithaca NY, Nathaniel West (Christa) of North Charleston; aunt, Mary Wozniak (Luke) of Summerville; cousins, Ethan (mother, Crystal), Max, and Ezra.

Dozens more great-aunts, uncles and cousins are spread across the country, as well as his family’s many friends and acquaintances who have followed Tommy’s journey into this world and on to what dreams may come.

A memorial for Thomas Lee West will take place on Sunday, April 12, 2026, from 10am to 1pm at Ashley River Park (Screened Porch), 200 Renken Rd., Summerville SC 29485. All who wish to come are welcome.

Please direct any flowers and/or gifts to Annie and Ryan West, 104 Martin Ln., Summerville, SC 29485.

Until we meet again, dream big little Tommy. You are dearly loved and hugely missed. We will cherish your memory forever.Arrangements have been entrusted to McAlister-Smith Funeral and Cremation, 2501 Bees Ferry Road, Charleston, SC 29414, (843) 722-8371.

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Tommy Lee’s World 
A poem by Anne West, your Mommy

You were too good for our world. 
Though it’s hard for me to see as I watch you begin your eternal sleep 

You belong in a better world, that I can see with more ease as I close my eyes dripping with tears 
remembering that strong heartbeat that I once did hear 

A world where it blooms all year long, and in your sweet ears always lives a beautiful song 

A world with sunshine and rainbows with each new dawn and crescents and shooting stars through each brilliant night 

A world where smiles and giggles can always be found, even when there’s nobody around 

A world with no violence, or anger, or fear but one where there’s kindness, and giving and love always near 

A world where you’re surrounded by everything which brings you joy, that I can only imagine until I join you there, my sweet little boy 

A world where I’ll go on my hardest of days, when this hole in my heart is just too much to take 

A world which I’ll dream of until my days here do end, that I’ll keep close to my heart like the soft, warm touch of your hand 

As I write this I spend my first and last night with you by my side, 
and it stills feels so hard for me to understand why you left me so soon with a new emptiness inside 

A new reality which I’m not sure I’ll ever fully understand but when I think of your world it gives me hope that maybe one day I can 

My sweet little baby, Tommy Lee 
One day your world is somewhere I’ll be 

But until that anticipated day when we both walk together again, with my hand in yours and smiles on end 

Know you’ll live here in my heart with every breath that I take, each night that I sleep and day that I wake 

For my love for you has no end, my baby, my boy, my forever best friend 

I love you, I love you, I love you