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In 1990, I was in my second semester of my second year at Villanova Law School, and I was greatly anticipating the birth of my first son. There was no conceivable way the birth could be anything but stupendous. We were healthy parents, both committed to our careers, and surrounded by loving family members and friends. We even had the name picked out based on a long long line of Stark men going back to Peter Stark the immigrant from Landau Germany in 1865 or thereabouts.
All mommy doctor visits confirmed everything was on track for a perfect pregnancy and delivery when on Father’s day, June 17, 1990, mommy began contractions and entered the hospital in Philadelphia. Later that evening and early the next day, Peter came into the world, appearing to be healthy and well.
The very next day of life, there were celebrations with friends and family at the announcement of Peter’s birth. We even celebrated with a bottle of champagne.
However the joy and celebration was quicky coming to an end as the doctors discovered Peter had been born with a serious heart anomaly called hypoplastic left ventricle with transposition of the great vessels. This meant that Peter would have to be operated on immediately, that is on day 2 of life.
During the operation, we went into a chapel in the old St. Christopher’s hospital in Philadelphia and laying all of our cares on the Lord prayed the Our Father. When I said the words “thy will be done” a strange peace came over me knowing that only God knows what will happen to Peter and that I am completely helpless. My pride in having my first born was brought low by my utter reliance on the medical staff and God’s will.
At the precious age of 3, my son DJ was diagnosed with Stage 4 Neuroblastoma. There are no words to describe our journey with our little boy. What I can share is that God blessed us with an angel for a very short time here on earth; his blond hair was so light it was almost white and his eyes were a beautiful Caribbean blue. He loved his older brother, his cat Skittles and his favorite color was red. He loved cars and didn’t go anywhere without one in each hand. His favorite day of the year was birthdays, he truly loved celebrating others special day as much as his own.
DJ was a beloved patient at Denver Children’s Hospital and touched numerous lives while he was here. My mom was a tremendous help during this time, moving into the family home, while we moved into the hospital with DJ. We were forced to shrink a lifetime into 4 years, as we were trying to shrink the tumor in his tummy with chemotherapy. The tumor did shrink and the surgeon was able to remove most of it and then performed radiation. We thought we had made it through the hellish crisis, but the cancer returned. We were told they couldn’t cure DJ, he only had 2 months to live, and to take him home.
Despite involving the top Oncologist in the US for Neuroblastoma and moving to the Ronald McDonald house in LA for another year of treatment, DJ passed away at age 4. Though I grew up in the Christian faith, DJ was my greatest teacher about life and living. He taught me how to tolerate physical pain and taught me God is good all the time. He made me the man I am today.
At Coastal Yacht Donations, we are dedicated to supporting children facing serious health challenges, including cancer and heart disease. Our mission is inspired by the powerful stories of two remarkable boys, DJ Morse and Peter Stark, who taught us about love, strength, and resilience in the face of adversity.
DJ was diagnosed with Stage 4 Neuroblastoma at just 3 years old. His journey, filled with joy and heartache, left a lasting impact on everyone he touched. Peter Stark, born with a serious heart condition, faced life-threatening challenges right from the start. Both boys reminded us of the importance of community and support during difficult times.
We are raising funds to help us launch our initiative to accept boat donations. By reselling these boats, we can raise money that will go directly to charities supporting children like DJ and Peter.
Your contributions will help us provide essential resources and emotional support for families navigating these health challenges. Together, we can honor the legacies of DJ and Peter, making a meaningful difference in the lives of children and their families. Thank you for your support!
