Henry’s Hope is that all children with life-threatening medical conditions have access to medical treatment, supplies, and support for their families - regardless of socio-economic status.

As with every good cause, Henry’s Hope starts with an inspiring story.  This story is about a courageous, compassionate, and loving child – Henry.  At 9 months of age, Henry was diagnosed as failure to thrive.  The following two years proved challenging – several of his body’s systems began to fail.  He was unable to eat food, and a feeding tube was placed in his stomach.  After his first birthday, he only “ate” a special formula through his feeding tube.  He was unable to walk or crawl until he was 26 months old; so he attended physical therapy weekly for two years and had leg braces made to support him in standing.  His eye became paralyzed and he was farsighted; so, he began to wear glasses.  His respiratory system gave him trouble – he developed pneumonia several times, bronchitis, and was diagnosed with asthma – so, he got a machine for breathing treatments at home.   And, he developed dozens of infections.

In his first three years, Henry had 12 surgeries and procedures, dozens of diagnostic exams, over one hundred doctors’ appointments (with over a dozen specialists), hundreds of physical therapy sessions, taken several medicines, and the list goes on.  And, of course, he had (and has) gear.  He has a feeding pump, a nebulizer, feeding tubes and other stuff, an IV pole, bags that depressurize his stomach, a back pack to carry his pump, leg braces, and . . . .  You get the picture.

As his parents, two things have made a life-long impact and inspired founding Henry’s Hope.  First, Henry’s attitude through all of this has been truly remarkable.  He has not complained – when anyone else we know would.  He is happy, resilient, courageous, and has the best outlook on life that we have ever seen – and he is 3.  He even keeps things in perspective for his parents.  From our time in the hospitals, treatment centers, etc., we have found that Henry is not unique in these traits.  We firmly believe that sick children have the gifts and purity of love, compassion, perspective, and courage.  So, Henry’s Hope is dedicated to helping this group of kids – because they give us all so much already.