Grace

From our dear friend and brother Derek :-) Friends and Family of Cecil, Over the past year and a half, we’ve walked alongside Cecil through his battle with ALS. Watching this disease test such an incredible man has been difficult for all of us who know and love him. Anyone who’s ever spent time talking with Cecil remembers his kindness, that jovial spirit, his smile, and how he loved to laugh. More than anything, you walk away feeling a bond, with a soul that longs to experience his joy and love all over again. Cecil is a genuine light that has brightened the life of everyone reading this. He’s mentioned to me a few times how deeply moved he is by the outpouring of support from literally thousands of people. All the love he’s poured out into our lives is coming right back to him and his family, proving that love truly comes full circle. Whether through donations supporting Grace, Lizzy, and his medical care, notes on Caring Bridge, kind text and video messages, or—most powerfully—thousands of prayers lifted up from India to Spain, from Germany to California, from “Cecil’s Crusaders” asking for divine healing, your love is felt. So why this message? Well, Cecil always used to ask me, “Why do we wait until someone has passed away to say all the nice things we should tell them in person while we can?” I agree completely. So this time, the kind words, the stories, and the heartfelt thank-you’s are coming right now—while our hero is still here to hear them. I’m reaching out to ask you to record a short, 2-to-3-minute video answering a few questions about your relationship with Cecil. We’re compiling everything into a Dropbox folder so it can become a treasured keepsake for Grace and Lizzy, providing daily encouragement for Cecil and Grace along with a lovingly nostalgic trip down memory lane that they can share right now. Format: Record in 16:9 (sideways phone/tablet) and 1080p if possible. Steps to follow: Hit record. State your name/family's name. Read each question aloud, then answer in order: When did I (we) meet Cecil? What is my (our) favorite memory with Cecil? What impact has Cecil made on my (or my family's) life? (Optional) Leave a comment for Baby Lizzy. By OCTOBER 31, 2026, please upload your videos to this dropbox file: Cecil Tribute Folder: https://www.dropbox.com/request/hxqhrwrmztr55cpbk9js Thank you all for the amazing comfort, support, and love you’ve shown Cecil, Grace, and Lizzy on this journey. Our God is great and while we may never know why Cecil and his family have been dealt this hand, he trusts in the God that saved us by His grace and whose mercy and forgiveness none of us are worthy of but that is His free gift to all who believe in His Son. Cecil and Grace find peace and rest in that comfort despite the incredible hardship this life has handed them. God bless you all!

Thank you for standing with us Dear friends and family, I wanted to share an update and thank everyone who has donated, shared our fundraiser, or kept us in your thoughts and prayers. Your support means so much to me, Grace, and Lizzy. I am slowly recovering from surgery. I now receive all my nutrition and most of my fluids through my G-tube. Unfortunately, my speech and swallowing have become much more difficult. We have a meeting with my ALS care team this week—the first since surgery—to discuss how things are going and what comes next. We now have three caregivers, and we are actively interviewing candidates to fill the remaining gaps in my care schedule: - Saturday: all day - Monday: afternoon and evening - Wednesday: morning - Thursday: afternoon and evening If you know a caregiver who might be available for any of these shifts, please reach out. Your donations are helping make this care possible, and we are grateful as we work toward full coverage. On a happier note, Lizzy turns ten months old this week and is so close to walking! Watching her grow brings so much joy to our days, and we are soaking up these moments together. Thank you for helping us navigate all of this. Every donation, message, prayer, and act of kindness reminds us how much love surrounds our family. With love and gratitude, Cecil, Grace, and Lizzy