On September 3, 2017, our family said goodbye to Elijah. After a courageous five-year battle with a rare heart condition called restrictive cardiomyopathy, we watched our amazing son run into the arms of Jesus. Though our hearts were shattered, we found peace in knowing he was finally free — whole, healed, and held in perfect love. His favorite verse, Philippians 4:13 — “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” — became more than just words to us after Elijah passed. He clung to that verse through every struggle, and now, it lives on in us. In the depths of our grief, his unshakable faith reminded us that even in heartbreak, Christ’s strength would carry us through.

Elijah was the youngest of our four children and the heartbeat of our family. He loved helping on our hazelnut farm and poured his heart into basketball—whether running the court as a point guard, cheering for the Portland Trail Blazers, or watching “One Shining Moment” during March Madness. Yet more than his passions, it was Elijah’s character that defined him. With his dimpled smile and quiet strength, he was patient, grateful, and gracious beyond his years. His courage inspired not only us, but also the doctors, nurses, and caregivers who came to know him.

We miss Elijah to our core, yet his spirit continues to guide us. From our loss grew the Elijah J. Auxier Foundation and Elijah’s Heart House—living tributes to his legacy of compassion. Through the Foundation, families across the country receive grants to ease housing expenses while their child is in medical care. Closer to home, Elijah’s Heart House in Aurora, Oregon provides a physical place of rest and comfort for families with children being treated at Portland-area children’s hospitals.