Gavin's Trust Project...

Gavin's Trust Project

Making the impossible... possible... for all of his friends.

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Since the day Gavin was born, I have been on a mission.  It became my job - my identity - to help him. I promised him the first time I held him to my chest that I would always figure things out for him - I'd get him what he needed somehow, someway - and I'd never give up on him.

Ever.

Gavin had to trust me to keep my word.

Over the years, I did figure things out.  When I couldn't get the "special needs" item I wanted, I learned to adapt things that we had to make that work.  When a therapist asked us to try something, I researched until I found the exact thing and either borrowed it or bought it immediately.  I think my favorite homemade item was the parallel bars made out of PVC pipes.

We were lucky because we were able to purchase several things for Gavin that weren't covered by insurance.  We used much of our savings to buy a Hyperbaric Oxygen Chamber for him to use at home... and a KidWalk mobility system.

But not every family can do that.  Many families have to rely on therapists and teachers and their community to help make things happen for their kids.

There is, once again, a lot of trust involved.

Anything labeled "Special Needs" comes with a high price tag... making it inaccessible to many parents, therapists and teachers.  Imagine a big closet filled with assistive technology, adaptive seating, switch activated toys and special needs equipment like walkers and standers.

Sometimes that's all there is for a whole area - meaning teachers and therapists use what they have, borrow back and forth between each other and even... in some cases... duct tape things so they can continue using them.  This happens!  Despite what you might think, funding is minimal.

Everyone has to trust that somehow, someway they will get what they need to help the kids they serve.

This is where Gavin and I come in.

I have been secretly working on a project (which makes me feel like I'm still "doing" for Gavin) and I'm happy to share it today with all of you - and also invite you to be part of it.  

Last week, I met with two important people from the Chester County Intermediate Unit, which was the organization that provided therapy and services to Gavin from the age of three.  They had secretly quizzed Gavin's teacher to ask her if she had a "wish list" of sorts for Gavin's classroom.  The day they came to visit, we talked about the items needed for Gavin's classmates.  Those items were a multi level communicator to use during circle time, a sensory swing for inside the classroom, and a swing frame for the existing playground that can accomodate two special needs swings.  Currently, Miss Megan's "BigMack Communicator" is being held together by tape.  Their "sensory swing," one of Gavin's favorite activities, is now a fleece college throw that his Occupational Therapist brought in from home.

(That's Gavin inside, smiling away!) 

And the school provided a bucket swing for the playground, which was great for Gavin, but his friends with lower tone can't safely sit in it.

Here's the GREAT news.  When Meghan, from hope.joy.photography, volunteered to design and print the funeral programs, she opened a PayPal account for those who wanted to pitch in to cover the costs. After the programs were made, there was a lot of money left over.  Enough to easily cover ALL of Miss Megan's wish list... and then some.  So, Gavin's Trust Project is already off to a great start.  Gavin was able to immediately help his friends and teacher in a big way.  Miss Megan was so, very grateful.

Many of you have already given generously to the three organizations that mean a lot to our family.  But I want you to know... this project is extremely personal to me.  I feel like if I can make this happen, the "advocate" part of my identity will live on for years.  Currently, I have 19,769 readers on the Chasing Rainbows Facebook Page.  Imagine for a minute that each of those people gave one dollar.  That would be... beyond incredible.  That would mean that Gavin's legacy of proving that "anything is possible" would live on for years.  That would mean that that Brian would grow old enough to really grasp the fact that his big brother continuously helped kids like him right in our hometown.  And I will be so excited to explain to him that this Trust Project was built by readers who were inspired and changed by his big brother's journey.

A "Donate" button will live on the right side of my blog.  When you click it, it will allow you to donate any amount using your credit card or your existing PayPal account.  The donations will go to my PayPal account, which I have set up for this project.  Each time it reaches a specific amount, I will withdrawl the money and send a check to a supervisor at the Intermediate Unit that will be in charge of this fund.  If you are not comfortable with using PayPal or a credit card, you can make out a check to CCIU and put "Gavin's Trust Project" in the memo. You can then mail it to Chester County Intermediate Unit, c/o Deb Hiller, 455 Boot Rd., Downingtown, PA  19335.  I promise you, any amount you give will go a long way.  Even if you literally give one dollar - there will probably be 20 other people who do the same.  Every dollar adds up... and every dollar means the world to me.

(Edited to add:  I published this post at 10:25am and by 7pm, Gavin's Trust Project has already received $6,523.66!  Thank you for giving and sharing this project!  Much of this is made up of many, many small donations - proving that every little bit makes a BIG difference.)

I am so excited about this project.  I can just see the smiles on the kids faces as they gain access to equipment or devices that are fun.  And I can easily imagine the relief on the faces of teachers and therapists and parents when they realize they don't have to beg and borrow to acquire items that are much needed... and functional.  I will be updating along the way and I have been promised updates as Gavin's Trust Project is used for purchases.

The tagline of my blog has been "A Mommy's Quest to Make the Impossible, Possible... and the Unexpected Miracles Along the Way."  There are always unexpected miracles... even if they are born out of a tragedy.  I can't wait to see the miracles that come from this project.  And I want kids in this area to know their angel friend, Gavin, is here to make the impossible... possible for them.

Thank you for your support.  And thank you, as always, for loving our family!

Love,

The Superhero's Mommy