MEET THE CUNNINGHAM FAMILY

It has always been our dream to be able to use This Hopeful Hive to build a community of hope. When we lost Allorah, it was the stories of others that shared the possibility of finding happiness after their tragedy that helped us to not feel so alone. Our prayer is that the stories of others on the same walk through grief can find their way to those that need them most – for strength, for encouragement, and for hope. 

This all has been nearly a year in the making, and what joy it brings us to share the beautiful story of The Cunninghams and their precious boy, Deacon. From the moment we launched this nonprofit, the nominations came rolling in for them to be the first recipient of our Hope in the Hills getaway. We met with them for dinner, and I’m certain even after talking for hours, we could sit and talk forever. The connection you have when you know and share a pain so deep is so indescribable, and it’s impossible for us to express in words the encouragement and light they brought us. 

Take a moment to read the inspiring story of
The Cunninghams + Deacon:

Can you tell us a little about your family?

We have been together since 2011, married in 2018, and since then our lives have been filled with the sweetest blessings. We welcomed Deacon in 2020, Graham in 2022, and Bishop in 2026.  Our home is full of love, chaos, laughter, and little boy adventures, exactly the way we always dreamed it would be and we are so grateful for every moment together.

What was your child’s full name, and what are some special things you’d like people to know about them? How would you describe their personality, passions, and the joy they brought to your life?

David Edward Cunningham III  “Deacon” was a play on his initials, DEC. He truly was the sweetest, kindest, and most gentle soul. Deacon was always happy, always smiling, and always wanting to hug, cuddle, or sit in your lap all day long. He brought such a warmth and comfort to everyone around him.

He absolutely adored his little brother, Graham, and wanted to be doing everything Graham was doing. Even though he couldn’t walk independently without his walker or talk, he tried so hard to keep up with him every single day. His determination, joy, and love for life were so special to witness.

Deacon had the most contagious smile and laugh, and he made us smile every single day. He brought so much love, light, and happiness into our lives just by being himself. He taught us patience, unconditional love, and how to find joy in the smallest moments. He truly was an angel on earth, and being his parents was the greatest gift we could have ever been given.

THEIR STORY

Deacon’s journey was filled with so much strength, love, and perseverance from the very beginning. Shortly after he turned one, he started having febrile seizures whenever he would get sick or spike a fever. What started as a few scary moments quickly turned into countless doctor appointments, specialist visits, testing, and searching for answers.

Around that same time, we noticed developmental delays. He wasn’t walking or talking at one year old, so we began physical therapy, occupational therapy, and speech therapy to help support him. Our weeks quickly became filled with therapy sessions, doctor appointments, and doing everything we could to help him grow and thrive.

He had an MRI done, which thankfully showed no seizure activity, but the seizures continued whenever he became sick. That led us down the long road of genetic testing. We went through around five different genetic tests over the course of his life, each one bringing more waiting, uncertainty, and hope that we would finally have answers.

In August of 2024, we finally learned that Deacon had a very rare genetic disorder called Mitochondrial Complex II Deficiency. Because it is so rare, there wasn’t a lot of information available, which made the diagnosis even more overwhelming and heartbreaking to process. We were told that the condition can affect every person differently, that he could potentially live a long life, or that an illness could become very serious for his body.

Despite everything he faced, Deacon remained the happiest little boy. He endured so much more than most people will ever realize, yet he continued smiling, laughing, cuddling, and bringing joy to everyone around him. He never let his challenges take away his sweet spirit.

In early 2025, Deacon got the flu, and sadly his little body was just too weak to fight it off. He passed away peacefully in his sleep on February 2, 2025. Losing him has been the hardest thing we have ever faced, but we are so incredibly grateful for the time we had with him. He taught us more about love, strength, patience, and joy than we could ever put into words, and we will carry him with us for the rest of our lives.

How has this loss impacted your day-to-day life and your family?

Losing Deacon changed every part of our daily lives. As a stay-at-home mom, so much of my life revolved around caring for him and taking him to therapy twice a week since he was just 16 months old. Our routines, schedules, and even the smallest moments of our days were centered around helping him, supporting him, and loving him the best we could. When we lost him, it left an emptiness in our home and in my daily life that is impossible to explain unless you’ve lived it.

My husband’s life was deeply impacted too. He not only lost his son, but also the future memories and milestones he dreamed of having with him. Grief changed both of us in different ways, but at the same time, we still had another little boy depending on us every single day. Even through heartbreak, we had to keep showing up, parenting, loving, and finding strength for him while learning how to carry such a heavy loss ourselves.

At the same time, his loss has taught us not to take the small things for granted. The simple moments that once felt ordinary now mean everything, hearing our boys laugh, family time together, bedtime cuddles, watching our children play, or even just sitting together at home. Losing Deacon showed us how precious and fragile life truly is.

We try to live more intentionally now, appreciating the little moments and holding our family a little closer. Even through the grief, Deacon continues to teach us lessons about love, patience, gratitude, and finding joy in the smallest things every single day. There isn’t a day that goes by that we don’t miss him and carry him with us in everything we do.

What has been most helpful to you in your healing journey so far?

What has helped us most in our healing journey has been having each other, Graham, and now Bishop to love and care for every day. Even after losing Deacon, life continued moving forward because our boys still need us, and that has helped give us strength on the hardest days. Bishop especially brings a unique kind of comfort because he favors Deacon so much in certain ways, and it feels like we get little pieces of Deacon still with us.

Not that we ever wanted to stop thinking about Deacon, but grief can become so overwhelming at times that having our other children to focus on helps carry us through those moments when the pain feels too heavy to hold. Being surrounded by family and friends who continue to support us, talk about Deacon, and remember him has also meant so much to us.

Is there a particular moment, memory, or sign that has brought you comfort?

As his mom, one of the biggest sources of comfort after he passed away was dreaming about him. I had three dreams about Deacon, and every single one ended with me getting to hug him before I woke up. Those moments felt so real and peaceful, like I was holding my baby again, even if it was only for a moment.

Watching our boys grow, seeing little pieces of Deacon in them, and talking about the memories we shared with him helps keep his spirit close to our family. I think it also brings comfort knowing how deeply loved Deacon was and always will be.

We both grieve differently, but together we try to hold onto the joy, love, laughter, and beautiful memories Deacon gave us during his time here. Even in the hardest moments, those memories remind us how lucky we were to be his parents, and that’s what helps us keep moving forward each day.

How did you hear about This Hopeful Hive?

DJ went to high school with Justin and Allison, but we actually hadn’t heard about This Hopeful Hive until they reached out to let us know we had been nominated for this trip. It was such an unexpected and emotional surprise during a really difficult time for our family.

From the moment they contacted us, we felt so cared for and supported. Just knowing that people were thinking of our family and wanting to bless us in such a meaningful way meant more than we could ever fully express. We are incredibly grateful for their kindness, generosity, and for the opportunity to spend intentional time together as a family while continuing to heal after the loss of Deacon.

What was your reaction when you learned your family had been chosen?

More than anything, it felt like a reminder that people still care, that our story is seen, and that Deacon is still remembered. As a family, we don’t take opportunities like this for granted anymore, so we felt a deep sense of gratitude and appreciation that we were chosen to experience something together that could bring us light in the middle of a dark season and even a small amount of peace and connection as a family.

What part of the trip are you most looking forward to?

We’re most looking forward to simply being together. Having a chance to step away and make lighter memories as a family means a lot to us, and hoping Graham will really enjoy the rides and all the fun experiences. Watching him laugh, explore, and just be a kid in that kind of joyful environment.

What do you hope this time away will mean for your family?

We hope it’s a time where we can feel a little bit of joy again, and carry Deacon with us in a peaceful way while we make new memories together as a family. We know healing doesn’t have a timeline, but we’re grateful for any moment that helps us keep going and reminds us that love is still present even in the hardest seasons.

If you could share one thing about Deacon with the world, what would it be?

If we could share one thing about Deacon with the world, it would be how deeply he loved and how much joy he brought into every room he was in. He had this pure, gentle spirit that made people slow down and just be present with him. Even through all of his challenges, he was full of happiness, laughter, and the sweetest little personality that could brighten even the hardest days. He taught us what unconditional love truly looks like, and his love will stay with us forever.

What advice or encouragement would you give to another family who is grieving?

For any family who is grieving, we would say there is no right or wrong way to do it. Some days will feel impossible, and other days you may find small moments where you can breathe again and both are okay. Lean on the Lord and people who love you, allow yourself to feel everything, and don’t feel pressure to “move on” or rush your healing. Grief changes you, but it also shows you just how deep your love for your child will always be. Even on the hardest days, your child’s life and the love you shared with them will always matter and continue to live on through you.

Is there a song, verse, or saying that has helped carry you through?

Verse- 2 Samuel 12:23
Song- See you in a little while by Steven Curtis Chapman

The Cunninghams are heading on their getaway this June 2026! Pray that they have safe travels and are able to use this time to find joy together in remembrance of their son, Deacon. We hope to share more from their trip soon!