Support the Gray Family

August 17, 2024

Family and Friends,

Thank you for showing up so powerfully for the Gray family during the Honor Walk, as well as through you prayers, your generosity, and your thoughtfulness. Our friend, Gabe Tribbett, wrote a reflection on being part of the honor walk and I know his words mean so much to JR and Elizabeth. I wanted to share them here. I am also attaching below, a video to the song that the family chose to play during the Honor Walk for Josiah.

"Through heartache and tears, our friends (JR and Elizabeth Gray) sang the words of this song ("One Day") during Josiah's "Honor Walk"! For those who may not know, an Honor Walk is a procession where friends, family, and medical staff line the halls of the hospital while the family escorts their loved one's body to the operating room for organ donation. It is a quiet celebration of life and means of honoring the sacrifice of choosing to give life to others. Nearly 300 people lined the halls of Lutheran Hospital yesterday, many dressed in superhero outfits in tribute to Josiah. It was powerful, it was crushing. It was sacred.

"May you be inspired to trust in Jesus today based on JR and Elizabeth's example--their example of declaring steadfast hope and confidence in Jesus in the face of death, the death of their firstborn and beloved son. May you embrace the realities of eternal hope in Jesus, for life on earth is but a vapor. Death is near to all of us. God is good, even in the valley of the shadow of death, and through Him, we need not fear evil or death or sin. God's love in Jesus Christ is freely available to all who seek Him and all who trust Him for the forgiveness of their sins. We need only ask; God is gracious to give.

"There is no other name in the whole universe through which we can experience eternal life--it is ever and only through Jesus.

"Please take 3 1/2 min to listen to this song ("One Day" by Cochran and Co). Linked below.

Being present during Josiah's Honor Walk was one of the most powerful, inspiring, and heart-crushing experiences of my life. It really was a glimpse of heaven on earth to see God's people gathered around, grieving death in the depths of our being yet united in the hope and peace of an eternity with Christ, all the while praying God's grace down upon the Gray/Heuss families and upon one another. God was noticeably present among us."

Having had the privilege of sitting with my dear friends last night, I can tell you that Gabe's words are real on a practical level for the Grays. Last night, we cried, we grieved, yet we also reflected on God's nearness and goodness even in this valley, and our hopes for eternity, and our awe that God knows this pain and still chose to give his own son out of love for us.

I know you all have been carrying grief and pain right alongside the Grays. My prayer is that you experience the same comfort, peace, and hope that He is giving the Grays right now.

Thank you for loving this family so well.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=So94m-Lp6Pw

August 14, 2024

Family and Friends,

Thank you for your incredible generosity and prayers. I know your love and support means so much to the Gray family. I want to share an update on behalf of the family that was received yesterday evening.

"Thank you all for your prayers. The second assessment took place today and the results were consistent with brain death, so Josiah was officially pronounced dead at 12:46pm today. This is what we expected medically but of course not what we hoped. In the moment of hearing that final news, God truly gave both JR and I (Elizabeth) peace that passes understanding, and I'm not being trite or fake at all when I say that."

The Gray family has made the difficult decision to allow Josiah to be an organ donor, despite the fact that it prolongs an already long and excruciating process for them by several more days. The family shared, "We honestly think it is consistent with the kind of boy Josiah is - giving of himself to others and always wanting to share his joy with others."

While we find comfort knowing that Josiah is in the arms of Jesus, having had a close, sweet, prayerful relationship with him in his short 5 years, guided so beautifully by his parents and family, we deeply grieve his bright and unique light in this world.

Our goal is to shower this family with continued prayers and financial support. We know that no amount of money can relieve this pain, but our hope is to continue to go above and beyond their medical and funeral expenses, so that they have complete financial freedom to begin a healing journey, with no concern over finances.

"The Lord is close to the brokenhearted;

and saves those who are crushed in spirit."

Psalm 34:18

August 13, 2024

Friends and Family,

We are reaching out on behalf of our dear friends, Elizabeth and JR Gray who are facing unimaginable circumstances as their 5 year old son, Josiah, was airlifted to the hospital because of complications from seizures on Wednesday, August 7th.

While they provide around the clock care for their son in the hospital and face the emotional, spiritual, physical and financial toll, we wanted to provide an opportunity for people to come alongside them in a practical way.

As you can imagine, medical costs are mounting with Josiah having to be airlifted, and we do not want them to have to worry about money or being able to make decisions that are best for their family right now that require financial support.

Thank you for your amazing support of Elizabeth and JR and their precious kids, Josiah (5 years) and Abigail (9 months)! To know them is to love them, and any amount in support of their family is a huge blessing and makes a difference!