Aaron Palmer, a financial planner from Tacoma, Washington, went to Hawaii for a friend’s wedding with his golf clubs, hoping to play. However, his alcoholism kept him from the course.
One morning, despite being drunk, he felt a pull to watch the sunrise on the beach. There, he met a boy fishing, supervised by his mom. Driven by liquid courage, Aaron approached the mom. She shared that her son was battling cancer and they were on his Make-A-Wish trip. The boy’s wish was to fish on the beach in Maui.
Curious, Aaron asked if he could talk to the boy. Surprisingly, the mom agreed. During their conversation, the boy spoke about Jesus, life, and his views on dying. But the 30-minute conversation turned Aaron’s life around.
“I saw a boy facing death who had more faith, and more happiness, and more hope than I had in my entire life,” Aaron remembered. Growing up, Aaron had witnessed chaos and violence. His mother, married eight times, and each husband shared a troubling pattern of alcoholism and abuse. This turbulent childhood laid the foundation for Aaron’s own battle with alcohol.
This encounter was a wake-up call for Palmer. It made him realize the destructive path he was on. He knew deep down that he needed to change his life. Palmer returned home determined to change. Back home, he quit drinking, joined Alcoholics Anonymous, and sought God’s guidance to rebuild his life. Over time, Aaron transformed his life completely.
Now, 12 years sober, Aaron is a devoted father and a successful business owner. Each year, he and his family visit the beach where he met the boy who changed his life.
Feeling a strong urge years later, Aaron wanted to find the boy’s family to share how their son had impacted him. Despite not remembering Ethan’s last name, Aaron reached out to Make-A-Wish for help. Sadly, they informed him Ethan had passed away in 2013, and they had lost contact with his family.
Undeterred, he continued to press Make-A-Wish for any information that could lead him to Ethan’s family. His efforts were rewarded when Kim Elenez, the CEO of Make-A-Wish North Texas called with news that they had located Ethan’s family. Before contacting them, Aaron watched “Many Are the Wonders,” a documentary on Ethan’s life. The film deepened Palmer’s understanding of Ethan’s remarkable spirit and faith. Aaron left speechless when he learned that Ethan passed away on the same day as his own birthday.
With emotions high, Aaron connected with Ethan’s parents, Rachel and Matt Hallmark. Their heartfelt conversation confirmed the lasting legacy of their son’s life. Grateful for the chance to share his story, the Hallmarks welcomed Aaron to Texas for a poignant reunion filled with shared stories and tears.
Aaron and the Hallmarks are now set to share their inspiring story at the Make-A-Wish North Texas gala, celebrating the enduring impact of a brief but life-changing encounter.
WATCH: ‘Many Are the Wonders’: Ethan Hallmark’s Life Story