Beau’s Story
At just four years old, Beau Henshall faced the toughest battle of his life. Diagnosed in August 2020 with Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome (HUS), a rare and life-threatening illness, Beau was urgently transported by an Angel One flight from Arkansas Children’s North West to Arkansas Children’s Hospital in Little Rock. The months that followed were grueling for Beau and his family, with 40 days spent in the hospital, including 36 consecutive days of intensive care. Beau underwent daily dialysis for four weeks, an emergency surgery that removed 75% of his colon, intestinal blockage surgery, and physical therapy to relearn how to walk.
But Beau is a fighter. His family’s motto, “Onward always,” became the driving force behind his recovery. Beau emerged stronger, and as his mother Ali Henshall shared, “We truly believe God has a plan for Beau within Arkansas Children’s, and it all had to begin with HUS (Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome). I’m completely convinced his story will never stop.” This powerful sentiment has fueled Beau’s spirit as he continues to give back to the community that saved him. Beau Henshall is one of many children that represent what resources funded by our organization (and others like it) can do.
Onward Mighty Warrior
Beginning in May of 2023, D&F Charity proudly added Arkansas Children’s Hospital as a beneficiary, and Beau Henshall came out for a fun afternoon, serving as an ambassador for the hospital. This year, 8-year-old Beau, approaching his graduation from the ambassador program, returned as a special guest to the 10th Annual D&F Charity Trust Arkansas Golf Classic. Sporting his Arkansas Children’s wristband with the hashtag #onwardmightywarrior, Beau shared his story while selling raffle tickets to raise money for the hospital’s Angel One flight team and Nephrology department. Attendees proudly wore the wristbands in solidarity, showing their support for Beau and countless other children facing medical challenges.
BEAUtiful Knives for Arkansas Children’s Hospital
In addition to his emotional testimony and passing out his wristbands, Beau’s family also sold raffle tickets at the event, for their “final fundraiser as an active Ambassador family.” As Beau and his father are avid knife collectors, they asked their talented friend, Lane Gerwitz (Redland Blades), to make a custom knife, designed just for Arkansas Children’s. As a secret twist, “Lane wasn’t making just one…he made two identical knives! One for raffling off and the other as a surprise gift for Beau for his huge heart and hard work for Children’s.” Gerwitz fully donated the knives, expending no cost to the Henshall family, and Travis Allen hand crafted leather sheaths to accompany the knives, also a full donation, meaning that the Henshall family was able to donate half of the raffle proceeds to Arkansas Children’s Angel One flight team and the other half to his Arkansas Children’s Nephrology team.
While the raffle has since concluded, Beau’s commitment to Arkansas Children’s remains unwavering. The funds he raised at the event and through community efforts will directly support the specialized care that children like him receive. Beau’s dedication to giving back reflects the Henshall family’s gratitude for the world-class care and life-saving interventions that changed their lives forever.
For many children and their families, funding for medical care is life-saving so D&F Charity is honored to play even a small role in helping children access what they need for a good quality of life. For D&F Charity Trust, supporting Arkansas Children’s Hospital is about more than just funding—it’s about making a lasting difference in the lives of children and their families. Beau’s story serves as a reminder that, even in the darkest moments, hope, perseverance, and the kindness of others can pave the way for brighter tomorrows.
