How It All Began

At the end of Phoenix's heroic fight against neuroblastoma, just before he left us to be with God, Heather and I were laying in bed after another emotionally exhausting day. The weeks leading up to Phoenix's passing were harder than anything I have ever experienced, but at least he was still with us and we knew what we should do day in and day out. His fight had been the focus of our lives for the previous 19 months, but we knew in our hearts that it was coming to an end.

Heather, tears in her eyes, softly said, "I don't know what I'm going to do. What are we going to do?" My heart aching, I closed my eyes and prayed in the name of Jesus Christ for an answer because I was at a loss for words. I certainly did not know what we would do when Phoenix took his last breath. The thought of it pierced my soul. Full of fears and worries, I sought an answer from God Most High, and within moments, I heard His still, small voice telling me that we would continue the fight. A flicker of light sparked in the darkness as purpose rose from the deep depths of our despair. God had called us to serve.

That very night, Phoenix Stone Foundation was born as Heather and I talked about ways that we could help ease the burden of other families facing the same struggle that we had been enduring. Out of that night's discussion came many of the programs that we've been running ever since.

We thank God for this ministry He has given us, and for inspiring others to support our mission so that we've been able to continue serving through the foundation since August 16, 2017. It was on that day that Heather, Shiloh (Phoenix's 5 year old sister), and I made our first delivery to Dell Children's Hospital on what should've been Phoenix's 3rd birthday - just 5 days after we committed him to God for safe keeping until the age to come.

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. (2 Corinthians 1:3-4)