Nov 30, 2009 Posted by Jolene

Goodbye, Evan Newport

A few months ago, I posted an update about Evan Newport, a little boy featured in A Different Dream for My Child. The blog post told about Evan taking part in the festivities surrounding the Big House/Big Heart Run in Ann Arbor, Michigan this past October. Now it’s time for another update on Evan and his family. Early Friday morning, the day after Thanksgiving, a brief email arrived from... read more

Nov 27, 2009 Posted by Jolene

Holiday Survival Guide: 3 Strategies for Ministering to Special Needs Families

The holiday season is here. And one aspect of the season – whatever your faith background – is reaching out to the less fortunate with a helping hand. But with all the the seasonal hubbub, how do you get your home ready for the holidays and find time to minister to others? In this post, I’ll share three ways you can help others without losing control of your schedule. Multi-Task The... read more

Nov 25, 2009 Posted by Jolene

PTSD Treatment Can Change Your Child’s Life

For the past few weeks, National Public Radio (NPR) has been airing a series called The Impact of War.  While listening to several episodes that described the symptoms of PTSD in returning vets, the similarities to our son Allen’s PTSD symptoms (caused by early, repeated medical traumas from 1982 – 1986) were striking. An Interview with General Eric Shinseki In a November 13 interview with... read more

Nov 23, 2009 Posted by Jolene

Breaking Down Walls of Isolation

One overriding memory drove the writing of A Different Dream for My Child. Every time I thought about our weeks and months in the hospital with Allen, the sense of isolation and confusion that overwhelmed us in 1982 came rushing back. Thank You, Google Alerts So when the opportunity arose to write this book and break down the walls of isolation around other families, I was overjoyed. But writing a book... read more

Nov 20, 2009 Posted by Jolene

The Tale of Two Families, Part 3

The previous two posts in this series, you learned how the needs of two ordinary families led to the creation of Faith, Hope & Charity, a residential care facility for children with special needs. To learn more about the many services currently offered at their state-of-the-art home, visit their website, FaithHopeandCharity.org. A Powerful Example The two woman who conceived the idea for the... read more