Morgan’s Story: “We are so blessed to have been served by His Grace Foundation.”

When Morgan was born with sickle cell disease, pain became a part of her life, including monthly crises, hospital stays, and days when she simply couldn’t do what other kids her age did. At 15, during a Make-A-Wish trip to Galveston, a crisis sent her to the local hospital and set everything in motion: specialists who recognized what her previous doctors had not, and the start of a path that would change our family forever.

It wasn’t easy. The transplant journey tested every bit of us. The first week in the hospital felt manageable, but the second week, when chemo hit harder, the sores appeared, and her hair began to fall out; it was brutal. I still remember a hallway moment when I fell apart and every single nurse came over, patted me, and let me cry. That kindness kept me going when I felt powerless to help my child.

We were blessed in more ways than one. Morgan’s little brother, Andrew, turned out to be a perfect 10/10 match. The cord blood we had banked years before became the gift of possibility; it felt like it was meant to be. From the very first appointment with Dr. George, everything that followed felt like a blessing. The transplant team, the nurses, the physicians, their compassion, competence, and humanity were constant lifelines.

His Grace Foundation arrived as a bright, practical, and emotional support from day one. The welcome basket full of things we didn’t even know we needed brought a smile to Morgan’s face at a time when joy mattered most. Simple things like snacks, gift cards, and decorations for our room helped sustain us through long nights and made the hospital feel a little more like home. When logistical problems delayed our discharge, a small gift card helped solve the immediate issue and eased the stress. Those gestures matter. They connect families to the outside world during weeks when the hospital is all you know.

There were hard realities after the transplant, too. Morgan needed a hip replacement because of damage from sickle cell disease. She’s also facing premature ovarian insufficiency as a side effect of chemo, which brings its own emotional and physical hurdles. Yet despite these challenges, she’s thriving in ways we never expected. She turned 18, graduated, and is beginning to spread her wings. For the first time in her life, she’s experiencing days without constant pain. Her hair is growing back (curly and stubborn, so she complains, but it’s beautiful), and she’s full of opinions, energy, and a fierce curiosity about the medical world. We’re secretly nudging her toward nursing because she already knows so much and empathizes deeply with patients.

I can’t put into words how grateful we are to every donor and volunteer who supports His Grace Foundation. “Thank you” doesn’t cover it. You become the bridge from isolation to connection, from hunger to a hot meal, from fear to comfort. The generosity of strangers created a circle of care that made four-plus weeks in a hospital feel manageable. You gave us meals, snacks, supplies, and the emotional fuel to keep showing up for Morgan. If there’s one message I would give a donor in person, it’s this: your selflessness is life-changing. Walking into that unit is like walking into another world; your gifts bring the outside world to those who can’t leave it.

Morgan today is exploring life.  She’s deciding what she wants to do next, dealing with the normal frustrations of an 18-year-old, and discovering what it means to be free from daily pain. Her laughter still fills the room; now it’s a laugh of recovery and hope instead of pain. She’s beautiful, fierce, and wise beyond her years. We’re proud and excited to see what she does next.