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Hunter’s Hope

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Selbyville, DE
Hunter’s Hope

At 6 weeks old Hunter’s life was forever changed while residing in Chincoteague, VA. Join Hunter as he “bites back” against Shaken Baby Syndrome 🦈

He sustained a TBI, seizures, cerebral palsy, and is legally blind among other things.

11/03/2026

While we have been living deep in the hard days here lately, we will always thank God for the good ones 💙

10/29/2026

📸 School pictures… holy stressful for educators, parents, AND students! 😂

For kiddos with additional needs, photo day is rarely a one-and-done photo-op. There’s repositioning, redirecting, fixing hair and clothes, and a whole lot of patience and teamwork!

Today, our photographers, teachers, paras, and students ALL understood the assignment. Everyone came ready to do whatever it took to help each child shine. 💙

And me? I may teach high schoolers, but you better believe I started BELTING out Whitney Houston’s “I Wanna Dance with Somebody!” for one of my kiddos🎤😂

And guess what?! WE GOT THE SHOT! 🙌📸

I am blessed to work at the same school Hunter attends. It’s a special place filled with incredible people who show up for our kids every single day.

Today was a beautiful reminder that sometimes it takes a village, a whole lot of teamwork, and a little Whitney Houston! 💙

PS. Hunt got the shot -thanks to an amazing group of educators and his nurse💙🦈💙

10/25/2026

🦈🎄 🦈🎄 🦈🎄 🦈🎄 🦈🎄 🦈🎄 🦈🎄 🦈

In light of being on the struggle bus here lately we are so ready for some holiday magic!

🦈🎄 🦈🎄 🦈🎄 🦈🎄 🦈🎄 🦈🎄 🦈🎄 🦈

For the past two years, Hunter has participated in the Trees for the Arts Christmas Tree Decorating Contest, and we’re so excited to do it again! We honestly thought we had missed the deadline but to our suprise we hadn’t!

We love a little friendly competition, but what we love even more is sharing our love for our shark-loving, hope-inspiring little boy and telling his story. 💙

Every shark and every ornament is an opportunity to spread awareness, inspire hope, and celebrate Hunter’s strength, resilience, and the power of love. 🎄💙🦈💙🎄

Stay tuned! 👀

10/24/2026

We’re tired. The kind of tired that comes from constantly having to be strong, advocate for your child, prepare for the next hurdle, and keep pushing forward when all you really want is for life to give your family a break.

Someone once told me that sometimes, just when you think you can’t take another hit, life throws one more curveball before things finally start to turn around. If that’s true, October has thrown our family more than our fair share. A court hearing. The four-year anniversary of Hunter’s abuse. Kenny’s rotator cuff surgery. A choking incident at school. A partial nursing denial. Weekly seizures. Unfilled nursing shifts resulting in missed school. And difficult conversations about the next steps to make life more accessible for Hunter — a ramp, an adaptive vehicle, a wheelchair. Through it all, Hunter keeps pushing forward. But we’re beginning to see his little body tire more easily, and watching him work so hard just to navigate this world breaks our hearts.

It’s just not fair. He deserves to just be a little boy without every basic need becoming another battle to fight. We want to believe a breakthrough is coming. That all the advocating, fighting, and pushing will eventually lead us somewhere easier.

But tonight, we’re tired. And sometimes, you can refuse to give up and still acknowledge just how heavy it all feels. Here’s hoping the breakthrough is closer than it feels because tonight, our hearts are heavy especially knowing that all of this is because of the actions of others.

No child deserves this. All of these things could have been prevented.

10/22/2026

“So we pivot. And we find a way. And we keep going.”

This is our reality, but we must push on.

Please help us find Hunt a new sidekick to support him at school 💙🦈💙

10/20/2026

Mom took the night shift… again. 🥱

Caregiving is hard. Many of Hunter’s nursing shifts outside of school go unfilled, meaning Mom or Dad often has to step in to cover the gaps. Right now it’s mostly Mom due to Dad having to have rotator cuff surgery. (Yay!)

And now, despite those unfilled shifts, his insurance wants to reduce his approved nursing hours, claiming the additional hours are “not medically necessary.”
Let that one sink in. 🙄 We can’t consistently get the nursing coverage he already has, and now they want to take away even more.

Hunter’s care doesn’t stop when the school bus drops him off. His needs don’t disappear overnight, on weekends, or because an insurance company says he doesn’t qualify.

Healthcare sucks. Fighting for your child’s basic needs sucks. Living on minimal sleep sucks.

And what REALLY sucks is knowing this could have all been prevented had Hunter not been abused. His abusers will never know what it’s like to sacrifice practically everything to give a child the life he deserves at home instead of in a facility.

This is bigger than our family. Families shouldn’t have to fight insurance companies for the nursing support their medically complex children need to remain safely at home. No family should have to choose between their child’s needs and their own ability to keep going.

None of this is okay. But I’ll take the night shift every single time if it means giving Hunter the life he deserves. You are worth every sleepless night, every battle, and every sacrifice, buddy. Always. 💙🦈💙

As for mom, my coffee will be strong….all day long.

10/12/2026

Today, we honor Hunter’s little brother, Tater.

Tater is another one of Hunter’s unsung hero’s. He recognizes his big brother’s needs like second nature, noticing things that many people have to be taught. His awareness, tenderness, and instinctive understanding of Hunter are beyond what words can explain. He may be little, but the role he plays in Hunter’s world is so special.

We never want Tater to feel responsible for carrying Hunter’s burdens. He deserves to simply be a little boy. But we hope he always knows that we see him, we celebrate him, and we recognize the beautiful way he loves his big brother unconditionally.

Hunter is changing the world, and Tater is right there beside him, reminding us that sometimes the smallest heroes have the biggest hearts.

We love you buddy!

Love,

Mama. Daddy and Brudder

💙🦈🦈💙

10/11/2026

Today, we thank God for Hunter 💙🦈💙

Four years ago today, in Chincoteague, Virginia, our little boy’s world was shattered by unimaginable pain. Yet even as we remember the day that changed Hunter’s life forever, we choose to look beyond the heartbreak and toward the miracle that followed: Hunter survived, he has grown, and he continues to overcome in ways that inspire everyone blessed to know him.

We encourage you to do the same. Say his name, share his story, and show the world that good will prevail over evil.

We will forever be grateful for Hunter’s unsung heroes: his TidalHealth Emergency Department team—Dr. Sirockman and nurse Hannah Martin; the Delaware DSCYF social workers, too many to name, but you know who you are; and his Johns Hopkins flight and medical teams. You responded with urgency, compassion, and courage to a child in need and because of all of you, Hunter is still here today.

Hunter is so much more than what happened to him. He is more than his trauma, diagnoses, or the challenges he has faced. He is a joyful, determined, remarkable little boy who continues to show the world what true strength looks like. Hunter has taught us that progress does not have to look the same for everyone. Every step forward matters. Every milestone matters. Every smile, every laugh, and every hard-earned victory is worth celebrating.

Four years later, Hunter is still here—growing, learning, overcoming, and changing the lives of everyone blessed to know him. His presence has strengthened our faith and reminded us that hope can rise from even the darkest places. Today, we remember what happened, honor the people who helped save his life, and celebrate the beautiful life Hunter continues to live. He is not defined by the worst day of his life. He is defined by his courage, his joy, his resilience, and the light he brings into this world.

Hunter James Parks West, you are a miracle, a fighter, and a blessing. Your story is still being written, and we cannot wait to see all that God has planned for you.

Even on your hardest days, you choose hope—and so will we. We love you endlessly, sweet boy.

Love,

Mama, Daddy & Tater

10/11/2026

Four years ago, in a matter of hours, three children’s lives would be forever changed in Chincoteague, Virginia. A sibling group would be separated and a 6½-week-old baby would be left fighting for his life.

There were struggles. There were warning signs that, looking back, raise difficult questions. What was known, when concerns arose, and whether more could have been done are questions that deserve serious consideration. Because when it comes to protecting children, silence can have devastating consequences like it had on Hunter and his siblings.

Four years later and the impact of that day continues. Hunter is still here, still fighting, and still showing the world just how much strength one little boy can carry, but it truly is a difficult task for someone so little. He carries the weight of the world on his shoulders every day as his brain tries to relearn things and make new connections. His little body constantly fights itself over high and low tone. His eyes fatigue. He seizes when overstimulated. His PTSD takes over him if he hears a noise or sound that he connects to his past abuse causing him to hold his breath to remain quiet in fear of getting beat. He has to work extra hard just to make a meaningful movement or gesture. Yet, through it all Hunter continues to show up and embrace his new “normal”.

Life is all about choices. If only we could go back in time. We would give anything to prevent all of it, yet the reality is that we cannot. Though we cannot change what happened four years ago, we can choose to speak up, take concerns seriously, and never turn away when a child may be in danger.

Tonight, as we reflect on the lives forever changed by that day, hug your littles a little tighter. Hold them close. Never take the ordinary moments for granted. And remember that every child deserves to feel safe, loved, and protected.

This could have been prevented. 💙

Address

P. O. Box 46
Selbyville, DE
19975

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