Henry is an extraordinary 8-year-old boy whose story is filled with unexpected challenges, remarkable resilience, and extraordinary love. From the very beginning, Henry has marched to the beat of his own drum. Diagnosed with autism at age 2, Henry has always experienced the world a little differently than most children. He was a spirited, energetic little boy who loved to run, listen to Taylor Swift with his big sister Blakely, and keep everyone around him on their toes—usually by pickpocketing iPhones or flying headfirst down slides! Although he couldn't speak, Henry had a way of showing his personality and bringing joy to everyone lucky enough to know him.

 

Three weeks into kindergarten, in the fall of 2025, Henry's world changed forever. Henry went into status epilepticus, a life-threatening neurological emergency in which his seizures could not be brought under control. He was intubated and placed in a medically induced coma for nearly a month as doctors fought to stop the seizures. When Henry finally returned home after 72 days in the hospital, life looked drastically different.

 

Once a little boy who was constantly on the move, Henry now relies on a wheelchair for mobility, a feeding tube for nutrition, and around-the-clock assistance for his daily needs. His journey has brought unimaginable challenges, but it has also shown the extraordinary love around him and his determination to find joy, even in the most difficult moments.

 

The simplest things, like holding his head up, initiating muscle movement, and swallowing saliva, now take tremendous effort. But Henry wakes up every day with a smile, ready to give his all as he works to regain some of the strength and independence he once had. 

 

We don't know how much Henry will recover or what his future will look like, and that uncertainty is one of the hardest parts of this journey. But we do know how incredibly proud we are of the little boy who gives everything he has, day after day. Whatever the future holds, our promise to Henry is simple: we will never stop finding ways to help him grow, experience the world, and live a life filled with as much happiness and possibility as we can give him.