They Lost Their 11-Year-Old Suddenly, Now Strangers Are Making His Dream Come True
July 20, 2022
After suddenly losing their 11-year-old son, the family of Matthew Gallagher is sending his ashes to space as a way of honoring the little boy's biggest dream. And it wouldn't have been possible without the kindness and generosity of strangers!
No parent expects to be planning a funeral for their child. But U.S. Marine Scott Gallagher and his wife Cori found themselves doing just that when their 11-year-old son passed away unexpectedly.
"Honestly, it’s been the most traumatic thing you can really ever experience. He was my first baby, the first one to make me a mom," Cori explained.
RELATED: Their Healthy 9-Year-Old Went To Sleep And Never Woke Up And His Family Needs Prayers
Many remember this sweet boy for his "contagious laugh" and "contagious smile", along with his natural ability to make friends easily.
"He didn’t give you a choice if you wanted to be his friend, you were his friend," said his dad.
So when 11-year-old Matthew Gallagher unexpectedly went home to be with the Lord, his family wanted to do something extraordinary to honor him. And sending his ashes to space seemed like an incredible way to do it!
Sending Ashes To Space
Matthew Gallagher loved space and technology. In fact, the little boy dreamed of one day becoming an astronaut. And he was "ecstatic" over his upcoming summer space camp session at the Kennedy Space Center.
RELATED: After 5-Year-Old Leaves For Heaven, Folks Scramble To Fulfill Her Dying Wish
Tragically, Matthew's life ended before getting a chance to attend the camp.
So, as Scott and Cori researched ways to honor their space-loving son, they came across Celestis Memorial Spaceflights. The grieving parents learned they could be sending Matthew's ashes to space through the Destiny flight launch from Cape Canaveral in 2023. And it seemed perfect. What better way to honor their late son than to fulfill the biggest dream he had in life?
Though Scott and Cori Gallagher were desperate to grant their son's last wish, the price tag is pretty steep. The flight starts at $12,000.
RELATED: Dying Mother Had 1 Last Request So Her Nurse Adopts The Woman’s Son After She’s Gone
"Anybody who loses a child would do anything to fulfill their dream so we knew that we needed to do something space-related," Cori said of their desire to do this.
And that's when the friends, family, and strangers from all over stepped in to help make sure this grieving family got to honor their son in the best way possible.
Helping Grant 11-Year-Old's Final Wish
Donations poured in, making Matthew's and his parents' dream a reality. They will be sending his ashes to space!
One of the things Matthew and his parents would say to each other was, "I love you to the moon and back." And this, combined with Matthew Gallagher's love of space, helped direct Scott and Cori as they planned his memorial.
"We chose the Luna flight so that way, every time we look at the night sky and the moon, we will know Matthew is where he truly belongs," Cori explained.
YOU MAY ALSO LIKE: Dying Boy’s Last Christmas Wish Granted Before He Leaves For Heaven
Hopefully, each time Matthew's loved ones look at the sky, they will be reminded that he is now safe in the arms of his loving Savior. Though his sudden departure from this life was unexpected, may his family take comfort in knowing they will be reunited one day in Heaven.
WATCH: Florida Family Sending Ashes Of 11-Year-Old Son To Space
LISTEN: Terrified Child Sobs As Car is Crushing Mom But Then Cameras Catch Officer’s ‘Tremendous Act’ | 14-Year-Old Facing Death Inspires So Many And Mom Honors Her Dying Wish After She’s Gone
h/t: People
Featured Image Credit: Youtube/FOX 13 Tampa Bay
Mel is the senior writer for GodUpdates, finding, writing and sharing Christian, uplifting, and health-related stories from around the world. Mel has a passion for writing and graduated with a degree in English from Randolph-Macon College in Virginia. When she’s not researching and writing stories, Mel is very active in her church. You can usually find Mel playing board games with her husband and two young girls, giving someone a hug, or hunting down a good cup of coffee!
Today's Devotional
A Prayer for Your Adult Children This Holiday Season - Your Daily Prayer - December 11
We want our adult children to be blessed and enjoy a relationship with God. As their parents, we can intercede for them by praying Scripture over them. God loves them and knows them. We can trust God to keep them close to his heart and give them wisdom through the busy holiday season when so many events and expectations keep them racing.
Today's Devotional
A Prayer for Your Adult Children This Holiday Season - Your Daily Prayer - December 11
We want our adult children to be blessed and enjoy a relationship with God. As their parents, we can intercede for them by praying Scripture over them. God loves them and knows them. We can trust God to keep them close to his heart and give them wisdom through the busy holiday season when so many events and expectations keep them racing.
Past Stories
- Man Paralyzed At 17 While Snowboarding Has Found True Love and a Wonderful Life
- His Wife Passed Away, Now Their Special Tree is the 2024 Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree
- Granddaughter Captures Last Words Between Grandparents, Married For 69 Years
- New York State Police Rescue Woman Needing a Heart Transplant Stranded in Snowstorm
- Born the Same Year the Titanic Sank, World's Oldest Man Dies at 112
- Family Receives Support From School and Community After Losing House in a Fire
- Soldier Reunites With His Military Dog Yyacob After Years Apart
- Chicago Man Discovers That The Owner Of The Bakery He Loved To Visit Was Actually His Mother
- Husband Pays For 40 Pet Adoptions At Shelter For His Wife's 40th Birthday
- Parents Find Healing After Loss of Son By Donating His Beloved Key Collection To Little Boy
- Mom Dances With Son At His Wedding After Being Placed in Hospice Care 2 Weeks Before
- Grandmother and Young Granddaughter Battling Cancer At the Exact Same Time
- Community Brings Christmas Joy to Virginia Woman With Just Weeks to Live
- Four Friends Recreate A Fun Vacation Photo From 50 Years Ago
- School in Arkansas Mourns the Loss of Their Beloved Emotional Support Dog Abby
- 93-Year-Old Has Made Sure To Attend Every High School Football Game Since 1946
- Texas Mom Doesn't Remember Delivering Triplets After Rare Complication After Birth
- United Airlines Pilot Buys Pizza For 155 Passengers After They Make An Unexpected Stop
- Teenager With Down Syndrome Enjoys Playing Kickball After Parents Organize Neighborhood Game
- Woman in Shock After Finding Winning Lottery Ticket At the Bottom of Her Purse
- Australian Couple Walks Into Their Bedroom To Find the Cutest Koala
- 5 Boys and Their Father Were Saved By Good Samaritan After Explosion
- Daughter of WWII Soldier Finally Learns What Happened To Him, 80 Years Later
- Sisters Scream With Joy Watching Their 4-Year-Old Sister Take Her First Steps
- Her Mom Put a Message in a Bottle As a Child, 26 Years Later Her Classmate Found It
- This Missouri School Was Renamed After Their Much Loved and Dedicated Custodian
- Michael Strahan's Daughter is Now Cancer Free and Has Taught Him All About Perseverance
- These Two Newlyweds Found Love in Their Late 90s, After Meeting At Their Retirement Home
- Sisters Who Were Adopted By Separate Families Nearly 40 Years Ago Reunite After DNA Tests
- Oldest Living Person in the US Passes Away at 115, After a Long and Faithful Life
- At Just 20 and 22 Years Old, These Two Sisters From Minnesota Saved Their Family Farm
- After Over 450 Days in a Shelter, Boone and Rellie Find Their Forever Home, Together
- Sweet Kitten Named Coraline Loses Both Her Eyes, but Inspires Many with Her Spirit
- Donny Osmond Sees the 'End of the Tunnel' Coming After Performing for Over 6 Decades
- An Iguana Hitches a Ride on a Garbage Truck in Tennessee, Now Trying to Find Its Owner
- 6-Year-Old Starts 'Poop Scooping' Business to Help Animals and Adopt One of His Own
- Bride's Dad Drops During Father-Daughter Dance, but Things Lined up Perfectly to Save His Life
- Young North Carolina Father Risked His Life To Save a Couple and Dog From a Sinking Truck
- UPS Driver Jumps into Action As He Spots Elderly Woman on the Ground & Says It Was All God
- Rescuer Braces for the Worst After Spotting Kitten on the Side of the Road, Then Sees a Paw Move
- AJ Griffin Gives Up High-Paying Career with NBA to Follow God
- These Former Conjoined Twins Finally Go Home After Their First Birthday
- Teenager From Iowa Uses His Flying Skills to Help Hurricane Helene Victims
- Son Saves For 9 Months and Surprises Mom By Paying Off Her Mortgage
- Woman's Home is Surrounded By 100 Raccoons, and They Aren't Leaving Anytime Soon
- Dog Saves Her Owner's Life By Sitting in the Middle of the Road
- Widower Shares the Last Thing His Wife Told Their Son Before She Passed Away From Cancer
- A Nurse Saved Her Life 35 Years Ago, Now, She is Surprising Her With a Visit
- These Twin Sisters Have An Important Message To Share On Their 102nd Birthday
- This Brave 5-Year-Old Saved Her Mother's Life By Calling 911
Top Artists
Top Music Videos
Brad Stine Has Issues Brad Stine’s Hysterical Take on Adam Naming the Animals is Pure Gold
Gaither Vocal Band Gaither Vocal Band - Mary, Did You Know? [Live]
The Statler Brothers 'Til the Storm Passes By' The Statler Brothers Live Performance
Kari Jobe Kari Jobe - Firm Foundation (He Won't) / Great Are You Lord
Riley Clemmons Riley Clemmons - Come Adore Him
Blogs
At GodTube, you’ll find daily inspirational videos to lift your spirits and encourage you in your walk with God. Popular videos include worship music from your favorite Christian artists, cute videos with adorable kids and animals, hilarious videos from Christian comedians, user-uploaded videos, and clean viral videos to brighten your day.