Country Singer Granger Smith Donated Over $200,000 to Children’s Hospital in Memory of Son

Country Singer Granger Smith Donated Over $200,000 to Children’s Hospital in Memory of Son
Granger Smith and Amber Smith present a donation in memory of their son, River Kelly Smith, to Chris Born, President of Dell Children’s Medical Center of Central Texas in Austin, Texas on June 25, 2019. (Rick Kern/Getty Images)

Country music singer Granger Smith and his wife, Amber, are hoping something good can come from their tragedy.

The couple donated over $200,000 to Dell Children’s Medical Center in Austin, Texas, in their son River’s memory.

River accidentally drowned at the family’s home in Georgetown on June 6. After attempting to do CPR, the couple rushed River to Dell Children’s Medical Center where he received care from the staff but would die two days later.

“This is just the beginning,” Granger said while presenting a check for $218,791 to the hospital. “Let this be a small token of the gratitude that we’ve got for you guys.”

Granger Smith and Amber Smith
Granger Smith and Amber Smith visit Dell Children’s Medical Center of Central Texas to present a donation in memory of their son, River Kelly Smith in Austin, Texas on June 25, 2019. (Rick Kern/Getty Images)

The couple made tribute t-shirts in honor of their son and donated all the proceeds to the hospital.

“I’ll never ever forget it,” said Granger. “The first thing we wanted to do was start giving back to Dell Children’s.”

“I pray that nobody else ever has to go through what we’ve gone through, but if they do, I hope they come here because y’all were incredible,” added Amber.

The couple has said that they plan to produce another t-shirt later this year and will again donate all of the proceeds to the children’s hospital.

“We watched you through our eyes, through our grieving eyes, in the worst of times, we watched you speak to our little boy like he heard you and we were hearing it,” Granger said. “You were speaking to us and it mattered.”

“We don’t understand why this happened and we’ll never understand, but I promise that we’re going to figure out the good. We’re going to bring good from it,” said Amber.

Last week, the Smiths shared an emotional video as they opened up about the drowning death of their 3-year-old son.

They posted an almost 28-minute video on June 19 on YouTube titled “Finding Light In Our Darkest Time.”

The couple said they wanted to let everyone know how they were doing and thanked fans as well as the first responders and those at Dell Children’s Medical Center in Austin, Texas, who tried to save River.

Granger Smith explained he had been outside doing gymnastics with daughter London, 7, as River and their other son, Lincoln Monarch, 5, were engaged in a water gun fight.

Soon the parents were inside their pool gate attempting to do CPR on their youngest, who could not be revived. He was rushed to the hospital, where he died two days later, they said.

View this post on Instagram

I have to deliver unthinkable news. We’ve lost our youngest son, River Kelly Smith. Following a tragic accident, and despite doctor’s best efforts, he was unable to be revived. Amber and I made the decision to say our last goodbyes and donate his organs so that other children will be given a second chance at life. Our family is devastated and heartbroken, but we take solace in knowing he is with his Heavenly Father. Riv was special. Everyone that met him knew that immediately. The joy he brought to our lives cannot be expressed and his light will be forever in our hearts. If there are words to say more, I cannot find them in this moment. Love the ones close to you. There has never been a more difficult moment for us than this. . . In lieu of flowers or gifts, please send donations to Dell Children’s Medical Center in River’s name. The doctors, nurses and staff have been incredible.

A post shared by Granger Smith (@grangersmith) on

The Smiths, who spoke at their son’s funeral, said they are trying to focus on the blessing of having had River for the three years they did.

“I don’t think God takes anyone too soon,” the singer said. “I believe he was put on this Earth for that exact amount of time.”

Fighting back tears, he noted that River lived “just over a thousand days.”

“If you could live those days barefoot, red hair flying back on your tractor full speed ahead, if you could do that with your family around you, with no real care in the world, that’s a good way to live,” Granger Smith said.

View this post on Instagram

Nothing can prepare a mother to deliver this kind of news. We’ve lost our youngest son, River Kelly Smith. Following a tragic accident, and despite doctor’s best efforts, he was unable to be revived. Granger and I made the decision to say our last goodbyes and donate his organs so that other children will be given a second chance at life. Our family is devastated and heartbroken, but we take solace in knowing he is with his Heavenly Father. Riv was special. Everyone that met him knew that immediately. The joy he brought to our lives cannot be expressed and his light will be forever in our hearts. If there are words to say more, we cannot find them in this moment. Love the ones close to you. There has never been a more difficult moment for us than this. . . In lieu of flowers or gifts, please send donations to Dell Children’s Medical Center in River’s name. The doctors, nurses and staff have been incredible.

A post shared by Amber Smith (@amberemilysmith) on

He said he plans to return on tour as he finds healing in his music.

The couple said they are “stronger than ever” and have grown closer since their son’s death.

They implored others not to feel sorry for them.

“We feel very blessed,” Smith said. “We had an incredible boy for three years, and we feel good about that.”

The message included a montage of photos and video of River whose memory his parents hope will make others smile.

“Live like Riv,” they said.

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