Parents honour late son by launching foundation to support families of ill children

In the quiet, heart-wrenching days following the loss of their three-year-old son, Morgan, Maudi and Tyronne Wilken faced an impossible choice: sit with their grief or let their love grow into something more significant.

They chose the latter.

Just days after Morgan passed away on April 9 due to a rare and incurable heart condition known as Restrictive Cardiomyopathy, the Wilkens turned his memorial page into a full-fledged initiative now known as the I Heart Morgan Wilken Foundation for Change.

Their mission is deeply personal to help families who, like them, have walked the harrowing road of having a critically or terminally ill child.

“Morgan touched so many lives. He was an absolute ray of sunshine, no matter how sick he was. We wanted his love and legacy to carry on so that others can feel the love we did,” the grieving parents said.

A legacy of love

Morgan’s life, though brief, was rich with joy and strength.

Described by one of his therapists simply as love, Morgan embraced life wholeheartedly.

He loved books, dancing, and playing, even during his frequent hospital stays. Diagnosed at just 18 months old, Morgan’s rare condition placed immense emotional, physical, and financial strain on the Wilkens.

“We were both working full-time. I stayed home to care for Morgan’s twin while Maudi worked from the hospital. We did everything we could to keep Morgan stimulated, from books and toys to homeschooling from a hospital bed,” Tyronne said.

The costs were staggering. Despite having good medical aid, out-of-pocket expenses mounted, and in January alone, R20,000 in savings was exhausted.

A crowdfunding campaign helped the family through some of their toughest times. Now, what remains is being channelled into the foundation.

Turning pain into purpose

The I Heart Morgan Wilken Foundation is already making a meaningful impact.

One of their first acts of giving came when Maudi came across a Facebook post listing items needed for a children’s hospice unit in Stepping Stone.

Without hesitation, the foundation donated everything on the list.

“We just knew this is what Morgan would want. We wanted to be a voice for other families, stand up for them and support them,” Maudi said.

The children’s unit at Stepping Stone Hospice was deeply touched. They expressed heartfelt thanks for the unexpected generosity and asked for continued collaboration.

Changing the system from within

The foundation is collaborating with a hospital to introduce counselling and play therapy for parents whose babies are in NICU or PICU, aiming to make this a standard practice.

They are also developing a survival guide for parents navigating long hospital admissions, a much-needed resource born from their experience.

Other initiatives include:

• Mini libraries: With children’s books in NICU and PICU wards so parents can read to their children.

• Joy bags: Packed with activities to help young patients pass the time and find comfort during hospital stays.

• PEG care packages: For parents of children with feeding tubes equipped with helpful accessories, the Wilkens found invaluable during Morgan’s care.

A call to the community

The Wilkens are registering the foundation as an NPO/NPC to grow its reach. They invite the community to support their mission through donations, partnerships, or volunteer efforts.

“We know the road, we’ve walked it. Now, we want to walk it with others to ease the burden, even just a little,” they said.

Individuals and businesses can donate, contribute items for care packages, or offer professional services to support the I Heart Morgan Wilken Foundation for Change.

For more information, contact Maudi Wilken on iheartmorganwilken@gmail.com or 072 211 6063.

“Morgan was love. And that is the legacy we want to carry forward.” – Maudi Wilken.