Honoring Erik by Quenching the Thirst of Many

“7 days without our sunshine and light. 7 agonizing and wretched days AFTER losing our boy. So many want to know what happened and so that we don’t have to keep saying the words I am going to tell the story here. Our healthy, happy 17-year-old son went in for a routine wisdom tooth removal on Monday morning, June 24th. This kid has never been sick, never even had antibiotics for anything that we can recall. When he was given the medication to help him go to sleep for some crazy reason we don’t know why, and may never know why- his heart stopped and they couldn’t get it to start again. Emergency personnel did all that is humanly possible to save our baby and he is gone. We cannot wrap our heads around how this could happen to him, WHY this would happen and honestly don’t know how we are going to survive the days and weeks ahead of us. We know a few things for certain: this kid was loved and HE KNEW IT. He was cherished and HE KNEW IT. He made the world a better place and HE KNEW IT. He spread sunshine and light everywhere he went and he was surrounded by a tribe of people who loved him immensely and HE KNEW IT. Erik was our heart and had a loving and giving heart. He wanted to make people happy, he wanted to lighten a heavy load when needed. He sought out actively ways to bring joy to others and had a smile on his face constantly. He talked of his gratitude daily for his family and community and never a day went by that he didn’t tell all of us that he loves us. He was a Mama’s boy and his Daddy’s heart and Zack’s anchor through many storms. Erik’s Legacy will live on and continue to ripple out in countless ways. Mark and Zack and I want to extend our gratitude to all who have reached out and want to help.

Please follow the GoFundMe that was created to see what we are going to achieve in his name. Please pray for the emergency personnel and team who provided care for him, we are certain that Erik would have been the first one to hug them and tell them it’s okay. Pray for the team at Valley hospital ER who treated us with tenderness and love and support during a parent’s worst nightmare. So many lives changed that day and we all need prayers and grace and love.” – Sara Edge June 30, 2024

How does one cope with a loss of this magnitude? That question is ringing in the minds of all of those who know and love the Edge family. We are feeling this acute pain and asking, “how can I help?” So many have stepped up to help with meals, gardening, cleaning, memorial preparations, sharing in tears and prayers, and providing a listening ear. Mark, Sara, and Zack are aware they have an army behind them supporting them. Sara has coined the term “#EdgeArmy” and as the Edge Army, we will continue to come together to support this family.

The outpouring of love and support through the GoFundMe page has overwhelmed the Edge family and they realized the magnitude of contributions could have a significant impact on many lives. Sara and Mark instilled values of service in both their children and to honor Erik’s legacy the family would like to build a well in his name.

The inspiration for this well stems from Erik and Mark’s trip to Honduras in August of 2022, where they worked with Living Water International, to help drill a hand well to provide fresh water to the village of Caserio Las Penita. Erik and Mark invested their time, love, and energy into a community in need and we can think of no better way to carry on Erik’s legacy than to follow his lead. As the Edge Army, let’s dream big and as a team, help make this happen!

We are in the initial planning phase with Living Water International. The contributions in Erik's name will provide an electric submersible well that could supply portable water to up to 900 people in a community similar to Cesario Las Penta where Erik and Mark volunteered. The initial quote for "Erik’s Well" is $45,000. This goal may seem daunting, but we know the Edge Army can move mountains and save many lives in Erik’s name.

The Edge Army can use the GoFundMe page to stay tuned on the progress, timeline, location and groundbreaking date for Erik’s well. Please join us in using this page as an online meeting place where we can share memories, encouragement, prayers, donations, and to cheer on the progress toward Erik’s well. One day, we hope to come together to watch a live feed of water spilling out into a community of smiling faces surrounding Erik’s well and a plaque marked with his name.

While the pain of losing Erik will never disappear, our hope is that the progress of Erik’s well will provide some relief and pride for Mark, Sara, Zack and the Edge Army as we see the ripples of Erik’s light, love and legacy.