“Mommy, do we get to choose our age in Heaven?”
“I’m not sure, sweetie. What age would you choose?”
“I would choose to be 8 forever.”
A few weeks later, my precious son, Jude, died in a tragic car accident. He was only 8 years old.
Jude was full of life, joy, energy, and kindness. He loved baseball, adventures, and making people laugh, and he never missed an opportunity to tell someone he loved them. He had a way of making everyone around him feel important. Whether he was on the ball field, at school, or simply playing with his siblings, Jude lived with a contagious enthusiasm that drew people in.
On December 4, 2022, our family experienced every parent’s worst nightmare when Jude was suddenly taken from us. The days, weeks, and months that followed were filled with a grief we never knew was possible. Losing a child changes everything—it alters the way you see the world, the way you experience joy, and the future you once imagined. It felt as though our world had stopped turning while everyone else’s continued on, and we were left learning how to breathe again.
We quickly discovered that the loss of a child affects every area of a family’s life—not only emotionally, but financially, physically, and spiritually. While friends and family surrounded us with incredible love and support, we also became aware of the unique challenges grieving families face, long after the meals stop arriving and life begins moving forward for everyone else.
Out of that realization, the JC7 Foundation was born.
With the guidance of our now dear friend, Sheena, who serves as vice president of the foundation, we began turning a vision born from heartbreak into a mission of hope.
In the midst of our own pain, we felt called to create something that would bring hope to others walking a similar road. Our faith in Jesus Christ became our anchor through the darkest season of our lives, and the foundation exists because of His faithfulness and provision every step of the way. While we could not change our story, we could use it to help carry the burdens of other families facing unimaginable loss.
The mission of the JC7 Foundation is simple: to come alongside bereaved parents with practical support, financial assistance, and the reminder that they are not alone. Through grants, partnerships, fundraising events, and outreach, we seek to ease the burdens families face while navigating the unthinkable.
What continues to drive us today is not simply the desire to remember Jude, but the desire to honor the way he lived. Jude loved people well. He brought joy wherever he went. He made others feel seen, valued, and loved. In many ways, the foundation is an extension of who he was.
Over the last few years, we have witnessed firsthand how powerful simple acts of kindness can be. We have seen generosity provide relief to struggling families. We have seen the community bring comfort in moments of deep sorrow. And we have seen hope begin to grow in places that once felt consumed by heartbreak.
Jude’s life was only eight years long, but his impact continues to reach far beyond those years. In many ways, he is still changing lives. Our prayer is that the JC7 Foundation will continue to be a source of hope, healing, and support for grieving families for many years to come. Because while we cannot take away someone’s pain, we can walk beside them through it—and sometimes that makes all the difference.
JC7Foundation.org | @jc7foundation
What continues to drive us today is not simply the desire to remember Jude, but the desire to honor the way he lived.