Bentley Henderson is the daughter of Bailey and Courtney Henderson of Honeyville and almost two years old. Courtney is a former student teacher at Box Elder High School and fondly remembers her time there!

Bailey and Courtney were thrilled to learn they were expecting a baby, but during the pregnancy they received devastating news that Bentley’s heart had an incredibly rare heart defect and her chances of survival were uncertain. Bentley was born and within 60 seconds was transferred to the Cardiac Intensive Care Unit, where doctors immediately began planning for a very high-risk open heart surgery that took place on her fourth day of life. Bentley has already undergone more than a dozen different surgeries, including her most recent procedure to receive a cochlear implant!

Bentley’s daily appointments and surgeries are just part of her everyday life, and will continue as she will need lifelong medical intervention. Despite the many challenges she has faced, Bentley is a joyful, happy little girl full of personality. She loves to play with her animals, eat ice cream, read books and spend time with her family. With fewer cords and wires than before, she is slowly catching up on milestones impacted by frequent hospital stays. Bentley’s strength and spirit leave a lasting impression on everyone she meets, and there’s no forgetting that bright red hair!

Josiah Pace is the 11-year-old son of Clark and Ann Pace of Brigham City. He is a gentle, sweet boy and a cherished little brother to his three older sisters.

From early in life, he has faced extraordinary medical challenges due to a rare genetic mutation. He lives with severe cerebral palsy, epilepsy, kidney and heart disease, a blood disorder, and significant developmental delays. He is non-verbal, blind, receives nutrition through a G-tube, and breathes with the help of a ventilator at night. He is followed closely by multiple specialists and, unfortunately, experiences frequent hospitalizations.

While his medical needs are complex, those who know him best describe him first by his gentle demeanor. Though he cannot see, he can hear, and he clearly enjoys being surrounded by loving voices. He finds comfort in being read to, listening to music, hearing songs sung to him, and enjoying children’s shows. When he is happy, his smile say everything.

We are thrilled to team up with Bentley and Josiah and their families for this year’s alumni tournament. All proceeds will go directly to them. Please consider donating on Venmo and participating in the Silent Auction at the gym on March 20-21. Thank you!