Meet one of the amazing kiddos who the Joya team had the privilege to care for the past few years. She became a Joya alumna this spring, but will forever be part of the Joya family!
Faith is a beautiful 2-year-old who was referred to Joya after being discharged from Hospice as an infant. Faith’s family had never heard of Joya and they had no idea what to expect. Joya was there to guide Faith’s family in the right direction.
“We didn’t know what was out there in terms of getting the help that Faith needed developmentally,” said Faith’s mom, Heather. “However, Joya was there to push Faith and do everything they could to get her where she needed to be, and she was always up for the challenge. Faith has a ton of support from her Joya family, which includes a special education teacher, as well as physical, occupational and speech therapists.”
During Heather’s pregnancy, it was discovered that Faith had Trisomy 18, a rare genetic disorder that causes developmental delays due to an extra chromosome 18. It often results in slow growth before birth, low birth weight and life-threatening complications. Despite all those obstacles, they discovered ways to overcome each challenge and Heather says Faith has changed their lives.
Now, Faith is thriving and enjoys spending time with her family, being sung to, and being read a good book. She loves walking around in her Upsee (a mobility harness designed for kids with special needs) and exploring new things. Faith is a very family-oriented girl – she cherishes the time they spend together while hiking, going on walks, being outside and taking in all that fresh air.
As her third birthday approaches, Faith’s family is truly grateful for everything Joya has done to help her grow, yet sad that she will age out of the program that has taught them all so much.
They have learned to slow down and enjoy life, especially the little things.
“It is a real challenge to raise a child with special needs, but also so rewarding when you see them hit a milestone they have been working so hard to achieve,” said Heather. “Some things may seem so simple, yet, they are so challenging for Faith, and that is what makes her so resilient and strong.”
(Originally published in Spring 2021 Newsletter)