By: Julie Peters
This week, our son celebrated one year of attending Matthias Academy. It’s been a year of having fun, learning new things, having meltdowns without crisis, being loved through the hard moments, and being celebrated and welcomed back every single day. But of course, it’s so much more than what happens day to day or even year to year. For us, it’s the promise of all the years ahead.
When Colin aged out of school, there was nowhere for him to go. No one could staff his complex behavioral and personal care needs. And certainly, there was no acceptable place for him to live when the time comes when we can no longer care for him. And it will come.
As his parents, we lived in a constant state of dread about his future. Who would take care of him? Who would treat him with love and dignity? What would happen to him after we were gone?
I’m intentionally using the word “would” instead of “will” when I describe what this feeling of dread was like. “Would” describes a wide open, frightening place of uncertainty. “Will” presumes that the question will be answered, and that the problem will be solved. Until we found Matthias Academy, we couldn’t be sure of anything, and we had no promise of finding any answers.
Now we have an answer. Colin’s future and his home will be at Matthias Academy. It feels like we can finally put our burden down at the doorstep of this amazing, miracle of a place. Finally, we can begin to imagine his life as a happy and safe one, for all the days and years ahead.
And they all lived happily ever after, right?
Well, not yet. We are in stage one of the dream. Matthias Academy must grow. Already, there is a long wait list for adults just like our son. And the vision of a place where Colin can live his happy and safe life is still just that. The vision is amazing, but it’s going to take a lot of money to make it happen. If you’d like to support this next bold, extraordinary step in making the hope and promise of Matthias Academy become a reality for Colin and for so many others, please consider the many ways you can donate. Many of those ways can be found by following this link >>>> CLICK HERE
Thank you!
Julie and Kevin Peters
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