Our story is one of love and healing.
Those little grasping hands.
In Loving Memory of Everett William Graft
Everett William Graft came into our world on April 17, 2018. From his very first moments, he showed us a quiet resilience that forever altered the course of our lives.
Due to oxygen deprivation during birth, Everett was diagnosed with severe Hypoxic Ischemic Encephalopathy (HIE). In those first critical days, his medical team worked tirelessly to stabilize his breathing, heart, and kidney function. While much of his little body fought hard and recovered, comprehensive evaluations revealed severe, irreversible brain trauma. Everett was unable to breathe independently without life support, and basic autonomic functions like swallowing were compromised.
Compounding this heartbreak was a separate, rare genetic diagnosis. Prenatal testing had revealed that we are both carriers of a recessive gene for Metachromatic Leukodystrophy (MLD), a fatal neurological disorder. Confirmatory testing at birth verified that Everett had inherited the condition. Because of his severe birth injury, however, he was ineligible for experimental interventions or clinical treatments.
Faced with an impossible prognosis, our purpose became simple and absolute: surround Everett with unconditional warmth, maximize his comfort, and treasure every breath.
For 36 days in the NICU at Prentice Women’s Hospital, we soaked up every second. We snuggled him, sang to him, read stories, and held him close. On May 23, 2018, surrounded by family, Everett passed away peacefully in our arms. We whispered to him that he was safe, that his pain was gone, and that we would carry his light forward.
The Promise: Whatever It Takes
During our days in intensive care, a phrase from Everett’s great-grandmother became our family anchor: “Whatever it takes.”
Today, Everett’s love surrounds us every single day—especially when we look into the eyes of his sister, Daisy, and his brother, Rory. Through the What Everett Takes Foundation, we turn our love for Everett into direct, meaningful action for other families walking through the overwhelming challenges of pediatric intensive care and rare medical diagnoses.
Our Impact: Carrying His Love Forward
What began as a promise by Everett's bedside has grown into a thriving community of supporters. Through direct grants, foundational partnerships, and our hallmark events, we remove barriers so parents can focus entirely on being present with their children.
Annual Community Outings: In June 2026, we proudly hosted the 6th Annual What Everett Takes Golf Outing, bringing together hundreds of community members, donors, and friends to raise critical funding for families in need.
Direct Family Grants: Providing immediate financial relief for daily necessities, travel, lodging, and urgent medical needs during extended hospital stays.
Vital Nonprofit Partnerships: Directing hundreds of thousands of dollars to proven organizations changing lives on the ground, including:
Jackson Chance Foundation: Funding complimentary hospital parking passes to ensure parents can be at their child's bedside every day without financial hardship.
Mothers’ Milk Bank of the Western Great Lakes: Supplying vital pasteurized donor human milk to fragile and vulnerable infants in neonatal intensive care units.
Hope for HIE: Expanding global awareness, peer support networks, and clinical research for families navigating Hypoxic Ischemic Encephalopathy.
Children’s Wisconsin: Supporting specialized pediatric care, clinical teams, and family support services.
Everett’s life was brief, but his reach is boundless. With every grant provided, every parking pass funded, and every family supported, we honor our promise to him: Whatever it takes.
