Inheritance of Hope Stories
Around the end of the 2017 fall harvest, Tessa Martinson’s husband Jon fell ill with what was later revealed to be a melanoma which metastasized to his liver and lungs. Overwhelmed with taking care of their kids and being Jon’s pseudo-nurse, Tessa had to learn how to…
A 1-minute prompt to help build your legacy How can you find joy in sorrows? When facing trials, we often experience a mixture of feelings: fear, sadness, anger, worry, etc. But what if joy could co-exist with those feelings? What if we could experience jorrow™—joy…
In 2017, my family attended an Inheritance of Hope Legacy Retreat®. At the time, I didn’t fully understand how much that weekend would shape my life. My dad was living with ALS, and like many families facing a terminal illness, we were navigating a reality that…
A 1-minute prompt to help build your legacy How can you slow down and be fully present today? Life is busy and demands much from us, including our time and attention. It can leave us feeling hurried and frantic, distracting us from little moments of joy we may be…
A 1-minute prompt to help build your legacy Looking back and looking ahead Be intentional! As April comes to an end, grab a journal or make a note on your phone and reflect on these prompts: What was a highlight of the month? What was a challenge you faced this month?…
A 1-minute prompt to help build your legacy How can you be intentional in everyday moments? Being intentional doesn’t have to be a grand gesture. Sometimes it is as simple as writing an encouraging note, making memories in ordinary moments, like cooking a meal…
A 1-minute prompt to help build your legacy Who can you encourage with a note? April is National Card & Letter Writing Month. Writing a note of encouragement is a great way to be intentional! Take some time this month to write a letter to someone you love. Even a…
A 1-minute prompt to help build your legacy What comes to mind when you hear the word hope? The Easter season is a time of hope. Where do you find hope? Take some time to reflect and discuss with your family or a loved one. At Inheritance of Hope, we believe living…
A 1-minute prompt to help build your legacy What small act of kindness could you show today? One of the attributes of love is kindness (1 Corinthians 13:4). How can you show love to someone today through an act of kindness? It can be as simple as helping a neighbor,…
A 1-minute prompt to help build your legacy What has carried you through hard seasons? It’s good to reflect and see how far we’ve come during hard seasons. Where have you found hope or encouragement to get through? It could be through your faith, family, or…
A 1-minute prompt to help build your legacy What is a family story that you hope gets retold? Our stories have the power to create lasting connections for years to come. How can you capture yours? Recording a Legacy Video™ or having a Legacy Song™ created is a great…
A 1-minute prompt to help build your legacy How can you capture a moment from today? Each moment matters, no matter how big or small. Take some time to capture a moment today, whether by taking a photo, writing in a journal, creating a voice note that your family can…
A 1-minute prompt to help build your legacy What memory could you create this weekend? Set aside intentional time with your family to create lasting memories this weekend. Whether it’s a day trip, time at the park, a family movie night, or simply cooking a meal…
A 1-minute prompt to help build your legacy Who needs to hear “I’m proud of you” today? Take a moment to think of the people you care about. Who could you encourage by sharing that you’re proud of them? Give them a call, send a text, or write a handwritten note…
A 1-minute prompt to help build your legacy What are your values and how can you model them? Take a moment to reflect on the values that matter to you–faith, kindness, generosity, gratitude, etc. How can you live them out today? Who will you share these values with?…
A 1-minute prompt to help build your legacy What parts of your story do you want remembered? Take a moment to reflect on a memory or lesson you’ve learned. Share that story with a loved one by writing it down in a journal or letter, creating a short video, or verbally…
A 1-minute story to put a smile on your face “Believe you can and you’re half way there.”– Theodore Roosevelt
A 1-minute story to put a smile on your face Tomorrow is Compliment Day! Who can you encourage?
A 1-minute story to put a smile on your face “Give away love like you’re made of it.” – Bob Goff
A 1-minute story to put a smile on your face
A 1-minute story to put a smile on your face Happy New Year! How will you be intentional in 20025?
A 1-minute story to put a smile on your face Finish 2025 by being intentional. Create memories that matter these next few days.
A 1-minute story to put a smile on your face
A 1-minute story to put a smile on your face Looking for ways to be intentional this holiday season? Our Holiday Bingo activity is a great resource to help you create meaningful memories with your loved ones! Download now >>
A 1-minute story to put a smile on your face Be intentional this holiday season! Try some of these fun ideas with your family.
A 1-minute story to put a smile on your face Thanks+Giving season is here! You can help more families find joy in terminal illness. All gifts are matched now – doubling your impact. Give now or fundraise: InheritanceOfHope.org/Thanks-Giving-2025
The Quirarte family found joy through Legacy Songs™, our newest service that helps families capture what matters most. Diagnosed with glioblastoma, Joe and his wife Ashleigh had this priceless song created so their two children will always remember their dad. Ashleigh…
It’s Thanks+Giving Season! 562 children will lose a parent to terminal illness today. You can help families find joy in terminal illness! !All gifts are being matched now – doubling your impact. Here are two ways that you can help today: Give Now >> Make a…
A 1-minute story to put a smile on your face “Be present in all things and thankful in all things.”
At Inheritance of Hope, our mission is to inspire hope in young families facing the loss of a parent to terminal illness. One way that we accomplish this is through the support of generous partners who come alongside us to impact families and provide them with…
As a young mom, Laura Reith never expected cancer to be a part of her story. In September 2017, when her two children were just five years old and newborn, Laura received devastating news: a diagnosis of triple-negative stage IV metastatic breast cancer (MBC) that had…
A 1-minute story to put a smile on your face “Be brave and do not pray for the big thing to go away, but pray for a bravery that’s bigger than the hard thing.” – Ann Voskamp
What do you get when you combine big scoops of ice cream with genuine stories of resilience? A Hope Hub™ meet-up, where young families facing the terminal illness of a parent and life after loss get to link arms and turn challenges into community and hope! A Sweet…
A 1-minute story to put a smile on your face A new season is a new opportunity to create memories. Use this fall to be intentional with your loved ones. Facebook Twitter Email Print
A Magical Moment at a Legacy Retreat® Stepping into our Legacy Retreat® welcome dinner in St. Louis in July, you would have witnessed pure magic as families were greeted by tables overflowing with plush stuffed animals—a heartfelt gift from our amazing partners at…
Inheritance of Hope family member Kimberly Matthews-Hermans shares how she has experienced “jorrow”—joy in the midst of sorrow—while facing the terminal illnesss and loss of her husband Jasan. I put the coffee on. This might not seem like a profound phrase…
A 1-minute story to put a smile on your face “Choosing to have joy is not naively thinking everything will be easy. It is courageously believing that there is still hope, even when things get hard.”– Morgan Harper Nichols Facebook Twitter Email…
A 1-minute story to put a smile on your face Today is National Day of Encouragement! Let someone know you love them today with an encouraging note. Facebook Twitter Email Print
Ever wondered what happens at an Inheritance of Hope Legacy Retreat®? Our recent St. Louis Legacy Retreat® empowered by the Kendra Scott Foundation was nothing short of incredible. Our hearts are still full from the welcome dinner, where families picked out adorable…
Joe Jantke was served on the St. Louis Legacy Retreat® in July 2025. He shares how the life-changing experience impacted his family. Cancer doesn’t take a day off–frankly, it doesn’t take a second off. It works hard to steal, harm, kill, and more. Thus, the mind of a…
A 1-minute story to put a smile on your face You are allowed to have more than one feeling at a time. It’s okay. Facebook Twitter Email Print
A 1-minute story to put a smile on your face You’ll never regret making memories with your loved ones. Use the long weekend to spend time together! Facebook Twitter Email Print
We’re excited to announce the launch of Hope Hub™ Austin in September! During the months of preparation, Hope Hub™ staff, interested families, and potential volunteers connected at a January meet-up event to get to know each other, hear more about the program,…
A 1-minute story to put a smile on your face Weekend reminder: you can do hard things. Facebook Twitter Email Print
The holiday season is a busy time of family gatherings, celebrations, and traditions, but it can also be a difficult time for young families impacted by a parent’s terminal illness or loss. Many families may feel pulled in different directions emotionally…
A 1-minute story to put a smile on your face Facebook Twitter Email Print
August is Make-A-Will Month–a month focused on intentionality. We all have a legacy that matters. How are you being intentional with yours? One way that you can build your legacy is by creating a free Will on our website. This quick and secure tool guides you through…
A 1-minute story to put a smile on your face Starting August 11 at 11am ET, our Just Show Up Book Club will be going through “Consider It Pure Joy” by Inheritance of Hope Co-Founder, Kristen Milligan. Each week, the group will listen to a chapter together…
A 1-minute story to put a smile on your face It feels good to be intentional with your legacy. August is Make-A-Will month. Did you know? You can create a free Will through Inheritance of Hope. Show care for your loved ones, be intentional about the future, and invest…
Are you looking for a little extra support or encouragement? We’re honored to offer free 1-on-1 Hope@Home™ online sessions with Kim Virrueta, a Christian Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist based in California. Kim offers a compassionate, listening ear and…
A 1-minute story to put a smile on your face Facebook Twitter Email Print
This month, we celebrate five years of Hope@Home™ Groups! Launched in the early days of the pandemic, these virtual groups began as a way to stay connected when in-person gatherings weren’t possible. This solution quickly became a lifeline. Week after week, families…
A 1-minute story to put a smile on your face Be present in all things and thankful for all things. What are you thankful for today? Facebook Twitter Email Print
After losing her mom to breast cancer a week earlier, Emily reached out to Inheritance of Hope inquiring to see if her mom had made a Legacy Video™. She knew her mom had been in contact with an organization to record a video, but she wasn’t sure which one. Thankfully,…
A 1-minute story to put a smile on your face Facebook Twitter Email Print
As a child, I often caught myself wishing time away… To be double digits…To be able to drive…To be a senior, then off to college…To be married… As someone who has sat at the bedside of a loved one, it is in those moments that you realize…
A 1-minute story to put a smile on your face Facebook Twitter Email Print
A 1-minute story to put a smile on your face “Make a mark on the world that can’t be erased.” – Maya Angelou Facebook Twitter Email Print
As they wrap up their time in the Child Life Volunteer program with Inheritance of Hope, several students from Liberty University have hosted a fundraising event for the Legacy Video™ program. Rachel and Caroline sold flowers in their dorm, raising over $100 to help…
A 1-minute story to put a smile on your face Did you hear? Inheritance of Hope is launching a podcast! Join us online for our Podcast Launch Party on June 24 at 7pm ET. During the event, you’ll get the chance to learn more about the Inheritance of Hope Podcast, get a…
Big news: we’re launching a podcast! The Inheritance of Hope Podcast invites you into deeply personal conversations with those navigating the unthinkable: young families facing the loss of a parent to terminal illness. Each episode explores what it means to create a…
A 1-minute story to put a smile on your face Happy Father’s Day Weekend! Do something special to celebrate, honor, or remember your dad. Facebook Twitter Email Print
WE WERE IN THE NEWS! (Yes, that definitely deserves all caps!) Something really special recently happened. Lauryn Cooney, a mom preparing for her family to be served at our Orlando Legacy Retreat®, shared about Inheritance of Hope with a close friend. This close…
A 1-minute story to put a smile on your face Facebook Twitter Email Print
Elea Wade-Craig was served on the North Carolina Legacy Retreat® in April 2025. She shares how the life-changing experience impacted her family. How can I possibly sum up our experience at Inheritance of Hope’s North Carolina Legacy Retreat®?There were moments of…
A 1-minute story to put a smile on your face All gifts are MATCHED! Don’t miss out on the chance to make double the impact on families facing terminal illness. Give now in honor of someone who’s impacted you and help us reach 521 gifts this month in honor…
Shelby Akers is an Inheritance of Hope family member & volunteer. Her mom passed away on May 17, 2020, but her intentional legacy continues to make an impact today. Happy 5th anniversary in Heaven, momma! Today is always an emotional day, but this year feels extra…
A 1-minute story to put a smile on your face “Please think about your legacy because you are writing it every day.” – Gary Vaynerchuk What is your legacy? Learn more: www.InheritanceOfHope.org/Legacy Facebook Twitter Email…
Inheritance of Hope is proud to introduce Legacy Songs™ − a brand new service that will help your family be even more intentional while building your legacy! Capture what matters most in a personalized song you’ll treasure for a lifetime. Whether you want to honor the…
A 1-minute story to put a smile on your face Inheritance of Hope was founded on May 21, 2007. Each May, we take time to be intentional about legacy, and we want you to do the same. What is your legacy? As a dedicated partner, Analgesic Healthcare has a history of…
May is ALS Awareness Month. ALS has unique challenges that few understand. But there’s a community that “gets it,” because they’re in it too. Our ALS Hope@Home™ Group is a great way for families to receive support and community. One…
A 1-minute story to put a smile on your face Looking for ways to be intentional with your legacy? From May 14-21, we’ll send you a special daily email series with legacy-building ideas. Don’t miss it! Sign up now and share with a friend >> Facebook Twitter Email…
Recently, Legacy Video™ Manager, Ellie Ledin, spoke to a group of 65 seniors at the Crossway Church Senior Luncheon in Wisconsin. Tears were shed as she shared with them about Legacy Videos™ and the impact it has had on some of our Inheritance of Hope families….
A 1-minute story to put a smile on your face Inheritance of Hope was founded on May 21, 2007. Each May, we take time to be intentional about legacy, and we want you to do the same. What is your legacy? As a dedicated partner, Analgesic Healthcare has a history of…
Inheritance of Hope was founded on May 21, 2007. Each May, we take time to be intentional about legacy, and we want you to do the same. What is your legacy? As a dedicated partner, Analgesic Healthcare has a history of caring about legacy, especially for young…
National Legacy Day™ is May 21! Inheritance of Hope was founded on May 21, 2007. Each May, Inheritance of Hope takes time to be intentional about legacy, and you are invited to do the same. Everyone has a legacy that is being built each day. Whether big or small, what…
A 1-minute story to put a smile on your face Know an Inheritance of Hope volunteer? Let them know you’re grateful for them! Facebook Twitter Email Print
Meet Quincy and Dan, two of our outstanding volunteers in the kids group at Hope Hub™ in Twin Cities, MN! One parent reached out to gush about these two incredible people and what they had to say made our hearts SOAR! “They are so welcoming and kind and have…
A 1-minute story to put a smile on your face Facebook Twitter Email Print
Families shouldn’t face terminal illness alone. Through our Hope@Home™ Groups, families experience a compassionate, connected community where they are supported. YOU can be part of that impact. Whether you have 30 minutes or a few hours to give each week,…
A 1-minute story to put a smile on your face “The simple act of caring is heroic.” Facebook Twitter Email Print
Since 2011, Inheritance of Hope has earned a “Top-Rated” ranking on GreatNonprofits.org. Hundreds of 5-star reviews share the impact that families, volunteers, and donors are experiencing. One Legacy Video™ Client & Donor said: “Inheritance of Hope…
A 1-minute story to put a smile on your face Facebook Twitter Email Print
562 children will lose a parent to terminal illness today. They shouldn’t have to face that alone. Monthly giving allows significantly more time to be focused on reaching these families. One donor shares why giving monthly to Inheritance of Hope is important to them:…
A 1-minute story to put a smile on your face “Give away love like you’re made of it.” – Bob Goff Facebook Twitter Email Print
Grief is a journey no one wishes to take, yet for some, it becomes a path to healing not only for themselves but for countless others. Two women, both families served by Inheritance of Hope, and both devastated by the loss of their beloved husbands, found solace in…
A 1-minute story to put a smile on your face Save the date! National Legacy Day™ is May 21! Did you know? Kristen and Deric Milligan founded Inheritance of Hope on May 21, 2007. Celebrating their vision, we invite you to take part in this special day focused on being…
Having a local community of people who “get it” has made all the difference to one family facing the harsh realities of ALS. Even while in the ICU, Tesla Davis was able to remain an active member of Hope Hub™ Jacksonville. Despite undergoing a major medical transition…
A 1-minute story to put a smile on your face On March 18, we celebrate our Co-Founder Kristen Milligan’s birthday. We’re grateful for Kristen’s beautiful legacy and her reminder that we can all feel as if we’re God’s favorite child. Read her inspiring words >>…
The Tolentino family went on a Legacy Retreat® in 2023, but have only gotten more involved in Inheritance of Hope programming since returning from their trip. Every week, Miguel joins the Caregivers Hope@Home™ Group and his wife, Bianca, joins the Metastatic Breast…
A 1-minute story to put a smile on your face Tomorrow is International Women’s Day! We’re grateful for all the women on our staff. Their love and care for Inheritance of Hope families is a blessing. Facebook Twitter Email…
On March 7-9, we welcome the newest Inheritance of Hope families to our Orlando Legacy Retreat® empowered by the Kendra Scott Foundation. During the retreat, families facing the loss of a parent will create lasting memories at Universal Studios, gain helpful resources…
A 1-minute story to put a smile on your face Facebook Twitter Email Print
We recently were touched by a heartfelt request. A group of longtime friends, planning a reunion, immediately thought of Inheritance of Hope. Why? Because in 2024, they lost a beloved member of their close-knit group who had been served by us in Minneapolis that…
A 1-minute story to put a smile on your face You’ll never regret making memories with your loved ones. How can you be intentional this weekend? Facebook Twitter Email Print
During our Just Show Up Book Club on Wednesday mornings, attendees spend time listening to a book read aloud and then discuss it for a few minutes. After listening to a chapter of Suffer Strong by Katherine and Jay Wolf, the conversation centered around how difficult…
A 1-minute story to put a smile on your face Facebook Twitter Email Print
Our Hope Hub™ team has been on the move recently, traveling to Austin and Houston, TX to finalize details for our upcoming Hope Hub™ launches in both cities! Members of our staff, as well as local volunteers, hosted families for dinners at local restaurants which…
A 1-minute story to put a smile on your face “Give away love like you’re made of it.” – Bob Goff Facebook Twitter Email Print
Today on World Cancer Day, we honor those affected by cancer. Whether you are facing a diagnosis, caring for a loved one, or grieving a loss, you don’t have to face it alone. At Inheritance of Hope, we help families find joy in the trials of terminal illness. You can…