Reese Imhoff OS Fund

This is Reese Joseph Imhoff. He is our heart, weaved into our soul, and our greatest teacher.  

Our family was blessed with Reese’s arrival on October 13, 2003 and we immediately fell in love. Reese demonstrated early on his amazing ability to communicate with every person he encountered. Not only did he connect with others, but he brought out the best in everyone around him, especially his big brother and best friend Max.  As he grew up in our beautiful community of Ladera Ranch, CA., it became clear early on that he was a leader among his peers, and always had a heart for the hurting or marginalized kids. As Reese’s parents we loved to watch as there was always a group of kids following along behind our son with exuberance and excitement. Reese donned the title of “best friend” to many…friends, cousins, and his older brother Max. We have watched and are grateful that the bond can not be broken, even from the other side of heaven.

Both our boys childhoods were idyllic and we counted our blessing everyday. One devastating phone call changed our lives forever. On February 10, 2016, what we were told was a sports injury, was indeed diagnosed as a rare and aggressive form of pediatric bone cancer called osteosarcoma.  Immediately our entire family and especially Reese went into the fight of our lives. School and sports were replaced with over 300 nights in a hospital and countless procedures, surgeries, and infusions.  Reese would go on to conquer 19 different chemotherapies and immunotherapies. He would have his knee and a large part of his femur internally replaced. He would also go through a devastating hemipelvectomy surgery where 40% of his pelvis was removed. After these incredibly invasive surgeries, he would learn to walk again not once, but twice. After the pelvis surgery Reese impressed and amazed his surgeons with walking (with the assistance of a walker) on just day 13 in the hospital. He was told it would be months before he would want to move let alone walk, but Reese loved to prove the doctors wrong and break the mold. Reese would also go onto conquer 5 major lung surgeries. There were too many biopsies, procedures and infusions to literally count. But what Reese did through it all was never complain, question why it was him, and he certainly never stopped fighting through the suffering all while loving those around him.

When Reese would loose the ability to do something he loved like play sports and be active he would reinvent himself over and over. He became a drone photographer and took amazing photos that grace the walls in our home. He became a woodworker building a beautiful table for our family room. He became a fisherman, RC car builder, shoe designer, and a chef. To get his competitive spirit out he took up archery and used this time to not only shoot targets, but to walk back and forth to build his endurance. He was the first in our community to have the coveted Super73 electric bike to ride around the neighborhood to regain his independence. He was constantly reinventing himself and we were blessed to have a front row seat to witness his drive and tenacity.

We will never say that our boy “lost his battle” to this disease. Rather he won, as he never gave into the suffering, bad news, and devastating scans. To quote our amazing boy towards the end of his battle, “Mom, tell the doctors that I will do it. I will do the treatment because I know if I’m not fighting I can not enjoy my life. And I know to enjoy my life I need to do everything I can to stay here with my family. I’m not afraid to go to heaven mom, I only worry about how much you would miss me.” While these were devastating words to hear from our 15 year old son, these words did not surprise us. In just third grade Reese chose his life verse Joshua 1:9 which says, “Be strong and courageous for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” He clearly believed these words and it was from the Lord that he gained his strength. In fact he would engrave all of his shoes with Joshua 1:9 on one shoe and on the other shoe it would say Beast (his well earned nickname).

Reese was very aware that if he was the first to do a treatment, if it didn’t help him, it would help the kids around him by giving the doctors more information about this horrific disease. Our precious Reese moved to heaven after a three plus year battle on March 10th, 2019. We continue to be devastated without our precious son, brother, leader, and best friend. We lost the love of all of our lives, but Reese won his place in heaven.

We are honored to share that our local little league field is named Reese Imhoff. The league also bestows just one ball player (1 out of a 1000) with the Reese Imhoff INSPIRE award. Our boys high school, JSerra Catholic high school, has a Reese Imhoff Faith over Fear award, and a beautiful monument of a tree and plaque graces our neighborhood. All of these tributes were born from the pure heart of our beloved son who showed his courage, perseverance, and resilience. A love so big that it reverberates through out our community with these amazing tributes and awards.

Reese also shared that he didn’t want to be known for this disease. In his exact words, “Mom, I don’t want to be known for cancer, I want to be known for something much bigger.” I told him he was already known for so much more… Reese was driven by his FAITH, his LOVE of family, and a tenacity and drive that is unmatched in our eyes. He taught us what tenacity looked like in the face of unparalleled adversity. He taught us that it is always possible to love others even when we are in pain. He taught us how to celebrate others when we don’t want to get up.

He continues to reach out to us from the other side of heaven. We are incredibly grateful for these “Reese winks” as we like to call them. He has affirmed message after message that there is a reunion for us to look forward to. But until then, we are dedicating our time and lives to BE LIKE REESE and help and love those around us.

We are doing our best to live our lives exemplifying his message of strength and encouragement in all circumstances.

We love you Reese, always and forever, and until we meet again.

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