We Can Make A Difference
My thoughts posted to Facebook on 9/18/26, 2 weeks after Owen's death:
The past two weeks have been the worst two weeks of my life and the lives of the Bonner and Gulick families. Yesterday, after a year-long battle with inoperable brain cancer, we laid my grandson, 5-1/2-year-old Owen Bonner to rest until Christ comes again. An innocent little boy, who I was convinced was going to be healed. I wasn’t just optimistic, I was 100 percent, fully convinced that the Lord would heal Owen in His time. I was not alone in that belief. Even when we left the hospital just a few hours before he passed, and it was obvious that he was near the end, I still did not believe he was going to die. At all. But he did die. He wasn’t healed. And when we got that phone call, I couldn’t cry. I got mad. Mad at God. For two days the devil poked at me and ran continuous victory laps in my mind. I walked around completely confused, praying for answers, not understanding how His plan, His perfect plan, could allow this to happen. Without exaggeration, people around the world were praying in agreement for Owen’s healing. I knew Owen was no more special than any other child in God’s eyes, but I was also aware of the tremendous worldwide exposure Owen’s journey had received- something that was done by God, not by any of us posting updates or requests for prayer. I believed the promises in the bible that I believe describe healing as God’s will. He wants to heal. Things just did not make sense.
Through much prayer, I again received the peace that I had for a year of Owen’s disease. I was reminded of the many miracles I had seen with my own eyes over the last year, forget the countless miracles He performed in my life over the years. I was reminded how much strength He gave to not only Owen to face those daily challenges, but the incredible strength He gave to Cara and Jordan to be able to keep going non-stop 24 hours a day a year straight. I was also reminded that Owen passed peacefully, without struggle, distress, or pain. In fact, he had no real pain at any point during his illness. I was reminded of one headache Owen complained of very soon after his diagnoses. He was staying overnight with us, and his parents had just left to go home when Owen complained of head pain. We called Cara and Jordan to prepare them to come back, but we also said a prayer with Owen to relieve his pain. Within 15 minutes, his head no longer hurt, and he was laughing and having a good time. I was reminded about those days I was blessed enough to be a part of his radiation treatment trips and was able to witness Owen very calmly pray with his mom just before they put him under anesthesia in preparation to be fastened to the table to received treatment. Ultimately, I was reminded of our Lord’s perfect plan, and that all things will work for our good, and growing His kingdom is what is important in this temporary life.
Why wasn’t Owen healed? I don’t know right now. Maybe we won’t know on this side of eternity, but maybe we will see fruit from Owen’s short life and journey through terminal illness and his parents’ strength and conviction through all of it.
I still firmly believe, along with many others, that healing IS God’s will. God still answers prayers. He still performs miracles. And He still heals.
Don’t ever give up. Don’t let those you love give up. Do Not let the devil sow doubt or convince you otherwise. After a year of leaving me alone, he tried very hard to break me. I thank God that my roots were strong enough to overcome that encounter.
We are praying for the Lord to lead our new organization, Moving Mountains For Owen Inc. in whatever direction He wants us to go in order to pray for, assist, and offer hope other kids and families struggling with similar challenges to what Owen and his family endured. There are just too many kids in the same situation as Owen, and the best way we can honor Owen is to help others the same way you all rallied around Owen, his parents, and his sisters for many months. You may get tired of seeing it, but as we get organized, I will keep you all updated with what we are doing and how you can help us help others.
If you know of a child who is in desperate need of help, or only needs prayers, please reach out so we can as much as possible to make their lives better.
Again, thank you all for your prayers this past year. Our families are grateful. We look forward to making a difference for other kids very soon.
-Charles Gulick, Owen's grandfather
We Can Give People Hope
Additional Thoughts About Why Our Foundation Was Formed
While Owen fought this terrible, terminal disease, there were some very well-meaning individuals who told me what our family should expect and what to plan for, because they "knew" how this disease ALWAYS ends. It was cancer, after all. They had written Owen's final chapter for us. If my family and I did not have strong faith in God, I would have probably agreed with them. But we chose to fight alongside Owen every day, trusting God to lead Owen's parents to the right doctors, treatments, and protocols.
In the end, Owen did not survive. And although he was not healed, we want to bring hope to as many families with children in these situations. We want them to know that just because God did not choose to heal Owen, that does not mean that their child won't be healed. We know that God does still heal, and as I wrote above, we believe IT IS GOD'S WILL to heal. Prayer is powerful. Faith is powerful. Faith, the size of a mustard seed, is powerful. We will move forward encouraging families to lean on God completely for direction, knowing that God knows best and WILL do what is best for their child.
I personally will probably never in this life be able to fully wrap my head around my family's tragic loss, but I know God had a plan in all of this and that He has more planned as a result of Owen's short life. So we continue to look to the Lord for leadership and guidance as we desire to offer hope, prayers, and real, tangible support to very sick children and their families.
Thank you for joining us in this mission. It is you, not us, that makes all of this possible. We are grateful for you and your support.
