Inspiration Sunday: Danny Stanton

 

Photo courtesy of ABC News

If your four year old died, would you be able to celebrate his short life instead of mourning his tragically early death?  The Stanton family in Chicago is doing just that.

Danny Stanton died of a seizure in December, just before Christmas.  His death was sudden and his family was devastated.  They wrote an obituary for their son and the final words are absolutely haunting:  Please go enjoy your life.  Danny did.  

It wasn't just a meaningless sentence, either.  Danny's parents, Mike and Marianne, started the Danny Did Foundation to prevent deaths from seizures.  They also started a Facebook group dedicated to the foundation and to the memory of their son.  Some friends on Facebook recommended I join this group and I am so glad that I did.

Every day, Mike and Marianne post a photo of Danny and then talk about things he loved to do:

Danny Did love to get Smarties from the barber shop after a buzz cut.
Danny Did most of the summer shirtless, feeling every raw moment.

Every day it's a reminder that this four year old really did live life to the fullest. It's also an inspiration that his family didn't curl up under a rock after he died but rather shared his story with the world. I can't imagine losing someone that close to me, and to be able to celebrate four years with him instead of crying about eighty without him is just incredible to me.

When I feel bogged down by crazy stinkin' thinkin' or other mundane little annoyances of everyday life, I find myself thinking of Danny and the Stantons. If they can suffer a tragedy like that and come out smiling, I can stand in line at Costco with a smile on my face. I really do feel inspired by this little four year old to go out and enjoy life, because I know that Danny did.