Matt and Melissa Graves will release a nine-minute tribute to their late son, Lane Thomas Graves, on June 14 through the Lane Thomas Foundation, marking 10 years since he was killed by an alligator at Disney’s Grand Floridian. The family says they want to turn
On June 14, 2016, 2-year-old Lane Thomas Graves was taken by an alligator at the shoreline of Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort and Spa. The animal dragged him into a nearby lagoon as his father tried desperately to free him. His body was recovered a day later.
Ten years on, Matt and Melissa Graves are returning to that day—without looking away from it. They will mark the anniversary by releasing a moving video on the Lane Thomas Foundation website on June 14. honoring their son’s life and legacy. The couple also shared an exclusive look at the nine-minute tribute video with NBC News correspondent Joe Fryer on TODAY on June 12. just two days before the anniversary.
The tribute is personal in the way loss always is: it documents Lane’s short life and the ripple effect that followed. “Lane had a special light about him and cared for his family deeply. ” his parents told Fryer in a phone interview. “We simply want to shine a light on our beautiful, blue-eyed boy at this very difficult milestone.”.
After Lane’s death. the Graves family created the Lane Thomas Foundation in his memory. with a focus on raising awareness about pediatric organ donation. Their message lands against a stark national statistic they shared through the foundation: more than 2. 200 children are currently on the national transplant waiting list for an organ donation.
The foundation is also built around the practical weight families carry when a child’s illness upends everything. It offers financial assistance to parents so they can leave work to care for their children without having to worry about expenses like rent or car payments. Over the foundation’s existence, it has helped about 200 families.
Matt Graves has described their promise to Lane in a way that sounds like a vow made once—and kept since. “We promised him at his wake, we would turn this tragedy into good for many families,” he said in a video for the foundation.
In the Graves home in Nebraska, Lane is still part of daily life. His siblings—Ella, 14, and Christian, 7, who was born two years after Lane’s death—keep his spirit alive. Ella, who was only 4 when Lane was killed, recently spoke at a fundraising gala for the foundation.
“I can promise you, we will not stop helping these sick kids,” Ella said at the event. “We have just started this journey, and I have some big plans for what will come next. Stay tuned for the amazing adventures in the future. And we are so thankful for your support.”
The foundation’s reach has grown beyond their immediate circle. drawing high-profile supporters including country music star Tim McGraw. Grammy-winning producer and musician David Foster. and legendary Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli. Even the symbol they chose is anchored in what the family wants people to remember: their foundation’s logo is a lighthouse. in honor of the beaming light of love Lane shared with the world in his short time.
The connection between memory and place has also been recognized at Disney World. In 2017, Disney World unveiled a lighthouse sculpture near the Seven Seas Lagoon beach in honor of Lane. In a statement to TODAY in 2017. the family said: “We find comfort that so many people continue to remember our sweet boy. Lane. and we believe the lighthouse stands as a beacon of hope and support for families in the depths of despair.”.
As the 10-year anniversary approaches. Matt and Melissa Graves are asking people to remember Lane—not only as the boy who was lost. but as the reason a foundation has kept going. On June 14. the tribute video will go live. and with it. the family’s insistence that a tragedy can still be transformed into something people can use: awareness. help. and a steady light when families feel they have run out of them.
Lane Thomas Graves Lane Thomas Foundation Disney World alligator pediatric organ donation Matt Graves Melissa Graves Nebraska Ella Graves Christian Graves
That’s so sad. Poor family.
I remember hearing about that alligator thing at Disney like way back. Didn’t they say it was an accident but still… how does a kid even get taken like that. Tribute video better be respectful.
Wait, is this the same Lane Graves who was taken by an alligator because like, he was feeding it? Or was he just near the water? People always mix up the story, but either way that’s heartbreaking. Also “pediatric organ donation” feels like a weird jump but I guess they’re trying to help.
9 minutes?? I can’t even watch stuff like that, but I’m glad they’re doing it. 10 years already is wild. I saw Disney’s lagoon and was like… why is there a lagoon where kids are swimming anyway, like shouldn’t they control the animals more? And 2,200 kids on the list—sounds like a lot, but they should say how many get saved too, not just the number.