Couple Whose Son Was Killed by Gator Has Another Child

Chris Jasurek
9/15/2018
Updated:
9/15/2018

A Nebraskan couple whose son was dragged underwater and killed by an alligator on a trip to Disney World in 2016 has announced the birth of another child.

Matt and Melissa Graves brought their children, 4-year-old Ella and 2-year-old Lane, to Disneyworld in Florida for a vacation in June of 2016. In a freak occurrence, an alligator grabbed Lane, who was playing in shallow water, and dragged him away, drowning him.

In response, the family set up the Lane Thomas Foundation, which helps children get organ transplants.

The Graves also decided to have another child.

On Sept. 12, the Graves announced the birth of their son, Christian Lane Graves. The new son’s middle name honors his predecessor, so tragically lost.

People Magazine quoted part of the announcement: “Although we know the pain of losing Lane will never go away, we feel God has blessed our family with this precious miracle of life.

“We know Ella and Christian have their brother, Lane, watching over them as their guardian angel.”

The statement continued, “The love and support we continue to receive from so many is greatly appreciated, but we ask that our desire for privacy continue to be honored.”

Rare and Unfortunate Mishap

Matt and Melissa Graves lost their 2-year-old son Lane in a freak incident—something the Nebraska couple would never have imagined.
Lane was playing in shallow water near the shoreline of Seven Seas Lagoon at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort around 9 p.m. on June 14, 2016, when an alligator burst out of the water and grabbed the child, People Magazine reported.

There were “No Swimming” signs posted, but no warning about alligators.

Matt Graves saw the alligator seize his son and rushed into the water to rescue the child. When he did, a second alligator attacked him, causing injuries which needed stitches.

Lane’s lifeless body was recovered, thankfully intact, about 16 hours later. The body was about 15 yards from shore and in six feet of water, the Orlando Sentinel reported.

Gators often store food to eat later.

After the attack, Disney erected a rock wall along the edge of the lagoon, and added signs warning guests of reptiles in the water.

There was no other alligator attack reported on Disney property since 1986, when an 8-year-old boy was bitten on the legs by an unidentified animal at Disney’s Fort Wilderness campground. That child survived the attack, according to the Sentinel.

Finding Light in the Darkness

The Graves family could surely have sued Disney World, which is a tremendously successful company. Instead, they decided to turn tragedy into victory—to use their loss as motivation to help others.
“Lane had a very special light about him. We promised him at his wake we would turn this tragedy into good for many families,” Matt Graves told Associated Press.
The couple started the Lane Thomas Foundation to honor their son, Lane Thomas Graves—when anyone would ask him his name, Lane would replay, “I’m Lane Thomas, I’m two.”

The foundation helps parents whose children travel to Omaha’s Children’s Hospital or Nebraska Medicine for life-saving organ transplants.

According to People, families whose children need organ transplants often spend weeks, sometimes months in the Omaha area while their children await treatment and recover from surgery. The cost of travel and care can devastate a family. The Lane Thomas Foundation tries to ease that burden.

Recognition for Their Loss—and Their Good Efforts

In 2017 Walt Disney World unveiled a statue of a lighthouse in the park to honor the Graves’ lost child and the efforts his parents had made to find some good in their suffering. The lighthouse is the symbol used by the Lane Thomas Foundation.

The plaque on the statue reads: “Presented by the Lane Thomas Foundation. A Beacon of Hope. A Light of Love.”

Walt Disney World Resort President George A. Kalogridis issued a statement to The Orlando Sentinel regarding the statue.

“To provide continued awareness of the foundation and its mission, we’ve commissioned an original sculpture of the lighthouse the foundation uses as a symbol of love and hope, to be installed on our property this summer,” that statement said.

From NTD.tv