Eli entered this world on January 26, 2014, with Complex Congenital Heart Disease that included seven defects within his heart alone. From the very beginning, his life was fragile, uncertain, and surrounded by words like high risk and limited expectancy. Most children born with heart conditions as severe as Eli’s are given a year; if that. But God had a different plan. God gave us ten.

Those ten years were not easy. They were filled with hospital stays, surgeries, recovery rooms, and moments no child should ever have to face. Yet somehow, in the middle of it all, Eli lived with joy, courage, and an awareness that his life was meant for more than surviving. Every heartbeat was a gift, and Eli lived like he knew it.

Eli didn’t see people the way the world often does. He saw past boundaries. He looked straight to the heart of a person—not their background, appearance, title, or circumstance. Whether it was a nurse, a fellow patient, a stranger in passing, or a child sitting beside him, Eli met people with the same sincere care and genuine concern. He loved without hesitation and helped without counting the cost.

Eli loved his church deeply. It was not just a place he attended, but a family he cherished. His faith was not confined to Sundays. Eli shared Jesus everywhere he went—whether in a restaurant, a store, a hospital hallway, or even on a street corner. He spoke about the Lord with a simple boldness, unashamed and unfiltered, because to Eli, Jesus was not just someone to believe in, but someone to be shared.

Baseball was another place where Eli’s faith shined brightly. He loved his baseball team, the Knights, and he played with heart, humility, and respect for everyone on the field. His testimony was evident not just in what he said, but in how he treated teammates, coaches, umpires, and opposing teams. At just ten years old, the way Eli carried himself left a lasting impression—not only on his own teammates, but on coaches and players from opposing teams as well.

Eli’s influence did not end with his final inning. At his funeral, several of his teammates gave their lives to Christ as a direct result of Eli’s testimony. Even in death, Eli continued to point others to Jesus—proof that a life surrendered to God never truly ends.

His burden for others began at home, with a deep love for his brother and sisters, and naturally extended outward. Even while facing his own medical battles, Eli noticed when others were hurting. He prayed for them. He encouraged them. Often, the child lying in the hospital bed was the one offering comfort to the adults standing beside it.

Eli’s faith was simple, sincere, and lived out loud. He didn’t just talk about Jesus—he trusted Him. In moments of pain and uncertainty, Eli clung to the Lord with a quiet confidence that spoke louder than words. His question was never, “Why is this happening to me?” but “How can God use this?” His greatest desire was that others would know Jesus personally and understand that no one is too broken, too sick, or too far gone to be loved by God.

It is from this heart—Eli’s heart—that Eli’s Heart Foundation was born.

The foundation exists to carry forward what Eli lived every day: meeting people where they are and lifting them up when life feels heavy. Eli’s Heart Foundation provides practical financial support to families facing overwhelming medical expenses, bereavement costs, and essential needs that often limit a child’s care and quality of life. It also offers educational and tuition assistance to families weighed down by circumstances beyond their control.

More than financial help, the foundation offers compassion, prayer, and presence. It is rooted in the belief that as Christians, we are called to step into the hard places—not with judgment or distance, but with love in action. We believe in giving a hand up, walking alongside families, and reminding them that they are seen, valued, and not alone.

Eli’s life reminds us that impact is not measured by years, strength, or ability—but by love. Though his time on earth was short, his legacy continues to reach far beyond what he could have imagined. Through Eli’s Heart Foundation, his heart lives on—loving boldly, serving faithfully, and pointing others to Jesus, one life at a time.