Stetson’s Journey of Strength, Hope, and Healing

At the Sandestin Foundation for Kids, we are continually inspired by the resilience of children and the life-changing power of community support. One story that recently touched our hearts is that of Stetson—a little boy whose journey has been marked by courage, transformation, and incredible love.

Stetson was born in the Jiangsu Province of China and spent his early years in an orphanage. When his family began the adoption process in 2018, they had no idea the child waiting for them would become such a remarkable part of their story. “It was a miracle how we were even matched with Stetson,” his mother Rachel shared. “That is a long story for another day.”

When they met him in 2019, Stetson was three years old. “He couldn’t sit up on his own, he couldn’t stand, he couldn’t walk, he could barely crawl. He was nonverbal… he was essentially a 3-year-old infant,” Rachel recalled. They believe he spent the first three years of his life mostly confined to a crib—but from the moment they met, it was clear: “He was a fighter.”

Stetson’s new beginning came with immediate challenges and incredible determination. “We asked much of him even while still in China,” said Rachel. “We immediately started working with him to build muscle strength, improve his gait, and force his body to do things they had never done before.” She even began teaching him sign language so they could communicate. Through it all, Stetson never complained. “He would take everything in stride…not to mention he was getting to know these weird humans who looked very different from him and kept hugging and kissing him.”

Little by little, Stetson began to grow stronger. “It is amazing to see how God and love can literally change a child's lifeless eyes, hurting heart, and even physical limitations,” Rachel said. But one challenge persisted: walking. Despite countless therapies and treatments, progress was limited—until they met a compassionate pediatric orthopedic surgeon who promised Stetson, “I am going to help you play soccer.”

Soccer has been Stetson’s dream for years, but the structure of his legs and feet made running painful and difficult. In a major step toward making that dream a reality, he recently underwent surgery on both legs and feet. “He is healing well and like he has always done since I have known him—he is fighting,” said Rachel. With casts on both legs, his day-to-day life is challenging, but his spirit remains unshaken. “He truly never complains.”

The road ahead includes several more weeks in casts, followed by braces and physical therapy. But there’s hope that later this year, Stetson will take the field for the first time. And thanks to generous supporters like you, the financial burden of that journey has been lifted.

“Your donation is the exact amount we owe the hospital and that gift relieves such a burden on us,” Rachel wrote. “To know Stetson is to love him... and as I write this, I hope it gives you a small glimpse into a little boy who has fought his entire life for love, healing, and overcoming so much.”

To our Sandestin Foundation for Kids family—thank you for being part of Stetson’s village. Your generosity is making a lasting difference, one brave step at a time.

To support stories like Stetson’s and learn more about how you can help, visit www.sandestinfoundationforkids.org