As Drake is currently away at a work-related conference, I find myself thinking back to the day when I asked him to come home from this same conference four years ago out of concern something was seriously wrong with Judson.  Drake left and returned home immediately without any idea our world was about to agonizingly change.

It has been four years since Krabbe disease entered and altered our lives forever, but time has only served to strengthen our resolve to share Judson's life.  God has been using Jud's story and he is affecting change—change in people, change in research, change in legislation, change in awareness, and more.

To that end, we have spent the last six months working with a lawyer (thank you O’Melveny & Meyers for your pro bono legal assistance) to hone, re-hone, and hone again our mission and purpose for Judson’s Legacy.

Judson’s Legacy will exist to share the life and story of Judson Levasheff in order to:

• * Demonstrate God’s compassion.


• * Encourage, challenge, and comfort people with the hope of Jesus Christ.


• * Raise awareness and fund research for leukodystrophies, especially Krabbe disease.  (A portion of our proceeds will go directly to the Hunter James Kelly Research Institute.)


• * Partner with organizations that minister to those who suffer.

This step of incorporation is intended to give direction and accountability to our ministry while also allowing people to come alongside us in support of our mission.  It will help to stremgthen our current efforts will also enabling us to expand.

As we take this next step, we have a number of start-up costs, which include making the award-winning documentary “Judson’s Eyes” available—if you feel inclined to begin partnering with our organization to help with some of our initial expenses you can use the following Paypal button to make a donation. Please be aware that since we do not yet have 501(c)3 status, donations are not yet tax deductible.

Any financial assistance, no matter the amount, is a HUGE gift as we know there are so many amazing organizations, large and small, that are worthy of support. 

Thank you for caring about our little family.  We are keenly aware that so many of you have undergirded us throughout this journey in a multiplicity of ways and have already been partners in our ministry.  Thank you for your love and support!  We would be blessed to have you continue lifting our family in prayer along with the ministry of Judson’s Legacy—especially that God would bless our efforts and provide the resources necessary to do what we believe he has called us to do.

So much love and gratitude,
Christina (on behalf of Drake too)

Dear friends and family…

We are moving!

The process of getting to this point has been grueling since we first learned of the foreclosure but we are grateful to have found a new home in a wonderful area, just around the corner from a fabulous elementary school for Jessie.

We are transitioning from Costa Mesa to the Woodbridge community in Irvine, which is an almost idyllic setting for raising our little girl.  Our home sits on a tranquil walking path that is less than 500 feet from a beautiful lake that offers boating, fishing, and a swimming lagoon.  It is truly amazing, and every time we visit, Jessie exclaims, “This is so pleasant!  I am going to love living here!”  These are sweet words that have brought important perspective with some of the challenges we have faced in the transition.  As we pack up our things, we are admittedly feeling the pinch of downsizing our living space for the sake of upgrading to this community, but we look forward to this new chapter with sweet anticipation.

However, though we are hopeful for what is to come, we are also intensely feeling the ache of leaving this home.  I have said to Drake several times that I wish we could have both.  I wish we could move to the new home but still be able to come back and visit our current home at any time to engage all the memories associated herein.  When I think of actually closing the door on this home for the last time, my chest swells with pain as if my heart cannot contain the thought.

But alas, we are moving.  And we are moving this Saturday.  We covet your prayers as we make this very significant transition in our lives.

Thank you for your love and care,
Christina (on behalf of Drake too)

P.S.  If you would like our new address, please send me a private email and I will be sure to get it to you.

Dear family and friends…

Today we face into the third anniversary of the day death tore Judson from our arms.  Sometimes, as a protective mechanism, I try to reason out why today need not be any different than every other day we live without Jud, but my heart knows the gravity of what occurred in our lives three years ago, and the pain cannot be denied.

We remember.  And our hearts ache.

We remember the wretchedness of what Jud experienced in his last days.  We remember the powerlessness we felt.  We remember all of our fears that have since been realized.  We remember how our hopes for healing were snuffed out.  We remember our shock.  We remember.  We remember.  We remember.

And it hurts to remember.  But we remember, nonetheless.  We remember because we love Jud and cannot forget.   We remember because it is these days that have shaped every subsequent day of our lives.  We remember because in the remembering we see the weight of what God has done through his sacrifice. 

In our remembering we are brought to our knees, desperate for grace, desperate for our own healing, desperate to be more than we are now, desperate for God to redeem our pain.  In our remembering we gain glimpses into our life to come—into the life that Judson began experiencing the day he was torn from our arms—and our strength, hope, and faith are renewed.  God seems to meet us in our remembering.  And so we remember.

Thank you to all who remember with us.  We have been incredibly moved by the number of people who are mindful of our family and have especially reached out to share their love for us and Judson during this season.

With Brokenness & Hope,
Christina (on behalf of Drake & Jessie too)

P.S. Drake and I both wrote letters to Judson for today.  Find Turn Back TIme and A Short, Sweet Song on our blogs.

P.P.S  We are so blessed to have had several people choose to honor Judson by making videos of him to commemorate his three years in heaven.  Each one is a sweet gift.  I will be posting them on Judson's Facebook page over the next couples days, but wanted to share this one here.  Thank you Millie, a friend we have never met, who clearly poured a ton of love into this beautiful video:

Dear family and friends…

Today, September 21st, marks 2 years, 10 months, and 14 days since our Jud Bud died.  This is a point in time that has loomed in our hearts since he left this earth, because…

Judson lived exactly 2 years, 10 months, and 14 days.

Soon after that dark Wednesday morning when we held our little man for the last time, it was daunting to consider that one day, our time with Juddy would be superseded by our time without him.  Today is that day.

Truth be told, there have been numerous occasions since losing our boy, even recently, where we've felt as though we won’t make it, where our loss threatens to suffocate us.  But every time, by God’s grace, we find our breath.

And, quite frankly, one of the things that has kept us breathing is to see God’s hand of goodness working in and through the wretchedness that afflicted our boy and the brokenness that has encircled us.  Only the grace of God can redeem something so heinous, and in seeking to understand his ultimate plan for our lives, we are finding meaning in our pain and sorrow.

But there has also been disappointment along the way and uncertainty as to what God is doing.  We have risked in areas and tried to step out faithfully in others, only to find more pain.  It has been incredibly hard.  We have been confused and confounded by multiple circumstances.  So a few months ago, we decided to step back, to be still, to wait; we have been waiting on God to undeniably guide our next steps in multiple areas of our life.

In our stillness, he has sweetly orchestrated some encouraging things.

The documentary “Judson’s Eyes” has been nominated for an award in the Pan Pacific Film Festival and we will find out on Oct. 2 if it wins.

In the big picture, Eyes that See has been doing well, and my publisher has started to line up book signing events.  My first one will be at Borders Books & Music in Yorba Linda on Saturday, Oct. 2 at 2pm.  If you are in the North Orange County area or know anyone in that area, we would be so blessed to have the support!

We filmed an interview for the TV Show, Upper Room, on KAC Media that is expected to air in the beginning of November.  We will keep you posted.

To make a long story short, Cherokee Brand Clothing® and Target Stores® became informed of Judson’s story and are currently printing replicas of Jud’s favorite racecar shirt (see photo above) for our family to wear in his memory.  This is a totally unexpected gift!

There have been many other gifts and graces in the last several months, too many to note here, but it is clear that God is still moving through the life of our son.  We are humbled and honored by it all!

Our arms are open, our hearts are surrendered, and we are asking God to lead us.  In the meantime, we pray for the patience to wait without growing weary.

Thank you for caring about us.  Thank you for praying for us.  Thank you for upholding us when we have struggled to endure.  Thank you for partnering with us on life’s journey.

So much love,
Christina (on behalf of Drake too)

P.S.  We are participating in a walk to support Hunter’s Hope in their fight against Krabbe disease this Saturday, Sept. 25^th.  You can visit Jud’s Buds team page to find out more information or offer support.  Thanks!

Today marks 2 ½ years of living without our Jud Bud.  Within just a few short months Judson will have been gone longer than he was alive.  The tears over losing him remain perched in the corners of our eyes, apt to fall upon every remembrance of our boy.  But we continue to trust that God can use our tears to water a harvest that will bring glory to his name.

And we are honored by the manner in which doors are opening to share Judson’s story and grateful beyond measure for your willingness to stand behind us as we move forward with this ministry.  There have been many circumstances recently that have felt as though the enemy is seeking to thwart our efforts—uncommon and unexpected things that seem to touch at the core of our weaknesses.  We want to step out in faithfulness wherever God may be calling us but we are so deeply aware of our need for him to sustain us. 

Here are a few specific areas where we would covet your prayers:

• Drake’s job situation


• Eyes that See


• Christina sharing Judson’ story on Life Unplugged TV.  The episode will be filmed May 17^th.


• Christina speaking at The Drive 4 Hope on May 21^st.


• The post-production of the documentary Judson’s Eyes that will premiere at the Talent 1 Media Film Festival on June 19^th at 3 pm.


• The other speaking and teaching opportunities before us.

Thank you for caring about our family.  Sometimes if feels like we have taken some larger strides on this journey and other times if feels like we can hardly crawl, but whatever the case we want to persevere.

Much love,
Christina (on behalf of Drake too)

Dear family and friends…

We have very exciting news to share with regard to Judson’s book.

But before I delve into the good news, I want to provide a little context about the publishing industry for those of you who, like me, have limited knowledge about the business…

In recent years there has been an explosion of books on the market.  Approximately 290,000 books were published last year, just in the United States.  Because of the sheer volume, nowadays most traditionally published books are be put into full distribution –meaning they are available everywhere books are sold by purchasing online or placing an order through a bookstore—but only a very small percentage of those books actually make it onto bookstore shelves.  It is estimated that less than 15% of books published each year are actually carried in stores by retailers.   And of those 15%, the five largest publishers (Random House, Harper Collins, Time Warner, etc.) account for about 80% of shelved books.  All that to say, for an unknown, no-name, first-time author, published by a small, Christian publishing house out of Oklahoma to be picked up by a major book retailer for in-store sales is extremely rare.  Hence the exciting news…

Barnes & Noble has decided to carry Eyes that See on their shelves. 

Our publisher met last Thursday with the buyer for Barnes & Noble and, though the specific details have yet to be determined, they have chosen to include Eyes that See in their summer line-up of new books in stores.  And because Barnes & Noble is the leading in-store book retailer worldwide, other bookstores are expected to follow.  This is HUGE news for the little book that grew organically out of the life and death of our precious boy.

So here is the low-down… Eyes that See is currently in Early Release and available now for immediate purchase exclusively at STORYofJUDSON.com.  The Official Release date remains April 6, 2010 at which time the book will be in full distribution and available everywhere books are sold (online or in-store ordering).  Then in July 2010 Eyes that See is expected to be on Barnes & Noble shelves.

We are grateful, encouraged, and trust we are continuing to see God at work in Judson’s story.  Understandably our hearts are all wrapped up in this project as it feels like a piece of our beloved son, but we want to move forward with open hands, constantly surrendering our hopes for the legacy of our boy, allowing God to work however he may choose. 

Thank you so much for your love and support.  It means the world to us!

Always missing Jud,
Christina (on behalf of Drake too)

We have two especially exciting things to share with you.

A couple months ago our publisher informed us that they had selected Eyes that See: Judson’s Story as one of their “Focus Titles” for the year.  This is a HUGE honor in that out of the hundreds of books they publish annually, they only choose approximately 16-20 books as “Focus Titles.”  These books receive extra marketing and promotion by the publisher and are highlighted as their top books. 

Consequently, our publisher has a big meeting regarding Judson’s book this Thursday, February 11th.  Without going into detail, the outcome of this meeting could make a marked impact on the promotion and visibility of Judson’s story.  We are asking for your prayers—for God to be especially present as the Director of Marketing represents Judson’s story, for Eyes that See to be well-received, and that God would continue to bless this project by opening doors.

Speaking of open doors, we are honored by an invitation to be guests on the radio program Talk from the Heart with Rich Buhler.  Talk from the Heart is a long-standing radio program airing in southern CA on KBRT AM 740 weekdays from 3-5 pm.   We will be joining Rich on Tuesday, February 23 from 4-5 pm PST.  Non-local listeners can also catch a live stream of the program at KBRT740.com.  We feel privileged to be able to share Judson’s story in this way.

Thank you for blessing us with your love, support, and prayers!

With gratitude,
Christina (on behalf of Drake too)