“Every child deserves a little Grace” is the motto of A Place for Grace (P4G), a recent non-profit organization formed to provide daycare services for special needs families. Now, you may say, what is the big deal about a daycare? Why should I keep reading this story? What is it going to offer that I have not heard a thousand times?
The answers will be revealed, and I encourage you not to stop reading. This is a story of an ordinary mother faced with extraordinary circumstances from the beginning of Emma Grace’s extraordinary life. Her extraordinary life and the role that God “uses” her to make a difference in lives much like herself.
When I approached Jenny DuMont about allowing me to write her remarkable story in the hopes of inspiring other mothers facing similar decisions, she was excited. When I told her that “the book will feature ordinary Michiganders doing great things without expecting anything in return,” she stopped me. Jenny indicated that P4G was started because of a bit of selfishness. After being called for the fourth time to Emma Grace up from “normal” daycare, she was frustrated with their inability to accept and care for her daughter’s special needs.
In desperation, Jenny feverishly began researching places that knew how to handle autistic episodes without just throwing up their hands and calling the parents. Much to her chagrin, she could not find any such place. At the time, there were no special needs daycares in Michigan. Undaunted, Jenny started researching and developing an idea that became known as A Place for Grace, Special Needs Daycare.
Here is one example of the impact of her decision. I’ve mentioned in Chapter 2 that my daughter, Alayna, has special needs. Alayna’s diagnosis is severe, with multiple cognitive disorders with epileptic seizures. She is wheelchair-bound, and unable to walk, talk, or feed herself. Alayna will always wear diapers.
When Alayna was fifteen years old, I was struggling to find a daycare that could help deal with the needs of my precious daughter. My current private daycare provider was going through severe medical issues, so she felt she could not properly care for Alayna anymore. I contacted the only daycare I knew that would have the compassion needed to care for her, but they informed me they were closing their doors due to retirement. However, that owner mentioned hearing about a place that specialized in just what Alayna needed. She wasn’t sure of the name, but she had a phone number that she gave me. This number happened to be for P4G.
I immediately contacted and set up a meeting with Jenny to meet Alayna and decide if she would fit into this new way of thinking. I fell in love with this place the moment I walked in. A sense of well-being overcame me as I knew that how Jenny looked at Alayna was comparable to how I did. Alayna was one of the first to be accepted in to this Godsend for special needs parents.
At P4G, I feel that all of Alayna’s needs are met. As a parent, I do not worry about Alayna’s safety and happiness when she’s at daycare. I have often called Jenny last minute to see if Alayna could spend the day there, and Jenny has never turned us away. Never have I been called to pick Alayna up because of her behavior. Nor have they informed me that they were not equipped to change her diapers.
Whether or not Jenny fully understands the full impact, through Emma Grace, a place that Jenny started for “selfish” reasons has turned into anything but selfishness. It has turned into a haven for many families looking for hope. Imagine for one minute that Jenny would have considered taking the doctors’ advice to terminate the pregnancy because it would have been easier. She could have said that she could have had an easier and more successful life without Emma Grace. Instead, Jenny chose life and love. And because of this choice, Jenny has found success.
I encourage you to visit the P4G website to learn more about the fantastic things happening in this special place for special people changing the lives of special families. If we do what is Willed, choosing life over death, then the following statement will always be true “Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the Earth!” and when we inherit the Earth, we are comforted by Love Is For Eternity!