Ernest and Anneke Robinson became the parents of a little boy on September 23, 1988. His name was Matthew Stanford Robinson and he was born with severe disabilities. They came about due to a lack of oxygen and he was paralyzed from the neck down, as well as being blind.
The doctors only gave Matthew a few hours to live but with the strength of his family and loving support, he lived to be 10 1/2 years old. When he passed away in 1999, his father decided to make a gravestone that was going to be both beautiful and unique. They wanted something that would depict Matthew in his truest form and would be a sign of hope rather than grief.
You can see the gravestone below and why it is considered one of the most touching gravestones in the world.
Matthew Stanford Robinson was born in 1988. He was blind and paralyzed from the neck down due to a lack of oxygen.
His parents were told that he would not survive more than a few hours.
Matthew lived far beyond the doctors expectations and had a life full of love and faith. He could only speak a few words but he inspired the family and the community.
Matthew fell asleep in death on February 21, 1999. He was 11 years old. The funeral service was full to capacity.
His obituary included the following passage: “And then it shall come to pass, that the spirits of those who are righteous are received into a state of happiness, which is called paradise, a state of rest, a state of peace, where they shall rest from all their troubles and from all care, and sorrow.”
His father decided to build a tombstone in memory of his son. It is a breathtaking sculpture of a boy rising from his wheelchair and reaching for the sky.
The tombstone became a place of hope as opposed to one of grief. The statue has been visited by millions of people from around the world.
Enjoy Utah! says: “One day while driving around doing research at the Salt Lake City Cemetery, I spotted this beautiful headstone and memorial. It immediately brought tears to my eyes, and continues to every time I visit it. Never before had I come across such a touching statue that tells so much just at first glance.
“This quickly became my favorite place to drive past in the cemetery, and I added it to the list of graves to visit on my Salt Lake City Cemetery Tour. It speaks volumes about how in this life we may have to suffer through hardships and trials, but when we pass to the other side, our spirits are free from those earthly disabilities.”
The parents established a charity inspired by their son. It is Ability Found.
The charity helps to provide assistive equipment for people who are disabled and cannot get it otherwise. It helps individuals who have unfortunate conditions, such as spina bifida, cancer, strokes, multiple sclerosis and spinal cord injuries.
By helping others, Ernest and Anneke are honoring their son’s contribution to their lives.
You can see more in the video below:
Be sure to share this with your friends on Facebook