Throughout this time, we were often asked how we coped, how we remained strong, and how we managed to find joy amidst the challenges. Friends, family, and even strangers reached out to us for support, prayers, and advice. They wanted to know what we did to keep going and how they could navigate their own difficult journeys. It was during these moments that we realized we had a story to tell, a story that could offer hope and support to others facing similar challenges.

Despite the hardships, we chose to focus on the positives. People often remarked that they wouldn’t have expected us to be so happy given our circumstances. We didn’t see ourselves as extraordinary; we were just parents doing our best for our child. We refused to let our son’s condition define him or our family. We dressed him in the same clothes as other kids, took him everywhere with us, and treated him like the vibrant soul he was. We didn’t get a handicap sticker for our car because as long as we could walk, we would walk for him. We believed deeply in the idea that “it’s not what happens to you, but what you do about it that matters.”

When Qwess passed away in 2021, our world was shattered. We had lost not just our son, but the center of our universe. Our lives had been built around caring for him, and without him, we felt lost. But we knew we couldn’t let his story end there. His life, though filled with challenges, was also filled with immense love and joy. We wanted to carry on his legacy in a way that would continue to spread that love and joy to others.

I knew I wanted to start a nonprofit in his memory the day he passed, but I wasn’t ready just yet. The grief was too raw, the pain too intense. I began the process soon after, but something was missing. I needed the right name, something that would capture the essence of our journey and the unexpected nature of life’s twists and turns.

The night before his celebration of life, I was working on some materials for the event, and out of nowhere, the phrase “Out of the Blue” came to me. It was perfect. It captured exactly how we felt, how life can change in an instant, completely out of the blue. It was the sign I had been waiting for.

That’s how “Out of the Blue: Life Happens” was born. Our nonprofit is dedicated to supporting special needs children and their families, providing them with the resources, support, and community they need to navigate their own unexpected journeys. We want to be a source of hope and encouragement, helping others to find their strength and resilience in the face of life’s challenges.

Starting the nonprofit was not easy. We were still deep in our grief, trying to make sense of a world without our son. Every step forward was a reminder of what we had lost. Writing a business plan, setting goals, and building a foundation felt overwhelming, but we pushed through because we knew it was the right thing to do. It was our way of keeping Qwess’s spirit alive and ensuring that his life had a lasting impact.

Today, “Out of the Blue: Life Happens” stands as a testament to the strength of the human spirit and the power of love. It is our way of saying that even in the darkest of times, there is light. Even when life throws us the most unexpected challenges, there is hope. Our mission is to ensure that no family ever feels alone on their journey, to provide support, love, and community, just as we would have wanted for ourselves.

To all those facing life’s surprises, remember this: it’s not about what happens to you, but what you do next that truly defines your journey. In honor of Qwess, we strive to make a positive impact on the lives of others, turning our pain into purpose and our loss into love.