Book

About the Book

Writing this book about our amazing daughter has largely been a blessing for Shelby and me. It is also without question what we feel God wants us to do. Hope was a wonderful child and her story has inspired thousands. We naturally want to share it.

But it has not been without its moments.

Almost every morning on the way to work, I pass by a particular bus stop. This bus stop is for younger kids and during cold or rainy weather, the children sit in cars with their moms, waiting for their bus to come and take them to school. It is a routine occurrence, a scene that knits itself into the background of everyday life during the school year. Most folks ride by these bus stops, not giving them a second glance other than to slow down and be cautious.

But I notice something more. I see it almost everyday and prior to Hope's journey, it would have gone unnoticed by me as well.

I see the precious gift of life.

I see a mother putting her daughter's hair up or laughing in the car with her when the rain falls outside.

I see a father kiss his daughter good-bye and high-five his son as they head to the bus. To them, it's just another day in their lives. Just another day of school and work with nothing out of the ordinary.

But to Shelby and me, it's another day without our Hope.

I am writing this book, which is based on my wife's journal during our daughter's illness. Shelby will add "A Mother's Perspective" at the end of some chapters. Then when Hope nears the end of her journey, our roles will reverse. Shelby will carry the narrative because she spent a great deal of time with our daughter, helping her with the ordinary processes of life. And I will add "A Father's Perspective."

Our purpose for this book is simple. We want to make sure everyone realizes how important, and how precious is the gift of life. How precious is a moment as ordinary as waiting for the yellow school bus.

This book is not limited to parents who have lost a child or have a child with cancer; instead this book is for anyone who is suffering a difficulty--a job loss, family problems, financial woes, divorce.

It is for anyone who might be facing tough times in the future.

We now know that God wants us all to have the childlike faith Hope possessed, a faith that refuses to be overcome by doubt or fear. This is the confidence that God is there with us and will take care of us. If this lesson is learned before a storm hits (and in this human pilgrimage rest assured that trials and tribulations will come in some form), you will be prepared to weather the storm and come out blessed because of it.

When Hope was interviewed by Charlotte radio personality Keith Larson about her wish, she matter-of-factly said, "We're just giving it to God, and He's gonna take care of it. Have a 100 percent faith in God, and anything is possible."

And she was right. Hope's wish to fulfill the wishes of the 155 children in North Carolina who suffered from life-threatening illnesses or injuries was realized on January 16, 2004, less than three weeks after Hope's passing. The vast majority of the one million dollars was raised in the month between December 19, when Keith Larson and other media began to tell Hope's story, and January 16, which was the first Celebration of Hope, a gala event to raise donations to Make a Wish.

And her faith in God, and in people, made this happen.

The Bible tells us that "a little child will lead them."1 We found that Hope's voice as a twelve year old led us in our struggles and prompted the entire city of Charlotte to fulfill the wishes of these children.

Michael Yaconelli says in his book Dangerous Wonder, "Deep within all of us, there is a voice. It speaks to us continuously, knocking on the door of our consciousness. When we are children the voice is loud. Its loudness is not like a train or jet engine. It shouts to us with a whisper. This voice of our childhood is the voice of wonder and amazement, the voice of God, which has always been there speaking to us, even before we were born." 2

Yet as adults, we try to control life and the voice becomes much softer because we think we know best. We grow up and healthy doses of life's realities bog us down.

We forget that childlike faith.

We hope that this book will help anyone who reads it to regain a childlike faith. That's what we learned from Hope Elizabeth Stout in her twelve short years.

Stuart and Shelby's book, Hope's Wish, How One Girls Dream Made Others Come True will be available on March 4th in bookstores nationally. Available for only $24.99.