We all face many challenges in life, and our family has definitely had our fair share. When I think about these challenges and start to feel overwhelmed, I always come back to a quote by Fred Rogers that inspires me:

“When I was a boy and I would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me, 'Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.'” ~ Mr. Rogers

So when I see my very headstrong, vivacious 6-year-old daughter, Starlit, trying her best but feeling overwhelmed, I give her Mr. Rogers’ advice.

A lot of people say their children saved their lives. In my case, this is true in more ways than one.

As a first-time mother, I found out while pregnant with my daughter Starlit that I was sick with an environmental cancer. I was told that if I had not been pregnant, they may not have found my cancer in time to save me. I was determined then to do whatever was best for my precious daughter, no matter what. At that time, this meant I would win this battle so I could watch her grow.

I started chemotherapy when my daughter was 3 weeks old. Little did I know this was only the beginning of a very long journey that included years of chemotherapy, radiation, a bone marrow transplant, and seven surgeries—the last being a double mastectomy and full hysterectomy—by the time I turned 36, just this year.

Despite all this, I was grateful that as a baby, Starlit was in good health and ahead of all her milestones. However, around 8 months old, I started to get concerned when I noticed she wasn't babbling or meeting her communication milestones. By the time she was 1, Starlit began her speech therapy journey. Between ages 3 and 4, she was still nearly unintelligible and was diagnosed with speech/language disorders, including apraxia, plus ADHD and sensory processing differences. Even after her years in Head Start, preschool, and after-school therapies, Starlit continued to struggle.

Despite my strong advocacy for Starlit and having an IEP for two years, public school still couldn't support her needs. This caused a lot of frustration. I didn’t feel valued as an IEP team member or heard as a parent. The whole process was exhausting, especially for a mother going through cancer treatments. I was so stressed that I couldn't focus on getting healthy.

Starlit lacked progress both socially and academically, even though I felt I was doing everything I could to support her.
I watched my child's confidence start to fade, and her personality began to lose its sparkle. My rambunctious little girl, who didn't waste a moment saying goodbye to me on her first day of school as she sprinted toward her class filled with excitement to learn, started to dread going to school by her last year of preschool. There were so many tears and days when we had to physically remove her from the car in the morning. It was heartbreaking.

She hadn’t even reached kindergarten yet; I knew I had to find a better answer.

This led me to Miriam. I researched their educational program and instantly knew it would be a perfect fit for my daughter!

I observed my daughter during her trial days at Miriam and met the staff. I was so impressed that I literally broke down in tears of happiness at finally finding an environment where my daughter could truly thrive. I couldn't help but wonder what a difference a school like this would have made for me as a child.

After her second trial day, Starlit's father and I asked her what she thought of Miriam, and she said, "I like it; I get to be myself, and they understand me."

We knew right then and there that we had to figure out a way to enroll Starlit at Miriam. No matter what obstacles our family faced, like the economy or the fact that I would need to drive 45 minutes to get her to school each day, we had to make this work because attending Miriam was what was best for our daughter. This ended up being the best decision we ever made, and we haven’t looked back.

At Miriam, they empower and embrace every student and adult involved, honoring each person's dignity and uniqueness. They helped us realize that our differences are strengths and celebrate the special gifts and talents that everyone brings to the community.

The teachers are always approachable, friendly and energetic, and Starlit has developed a strong bond with them. They have really taken the time to get to know her and understand how she learns. They are passionate about adapting lessons for different learning styles and genuinely focus on Starlit's unique social, emotional, physical and academic needs in their planning.

The ILP developed for Starlit was goal-oriented and appropriate. I was completely amazed at all the work the team put into preparing such a comprehensive plan. It was a relief knowing that Starlit would receive support in all the areas she needed, even in ways we hadn’t realized she needed.

I love the small classes at Miriam and that they group kids based on compatibility rather than just their grade. Miriam has made every accommodation possible, leveling the playing field so Starlit can reach her full potential. They meet her where she is, which builds confidence while still challenging her to grow. This shows her that she is capable of great things!

Having Starlit's therapy taken care of at school has been a game changer. It has given us back precious family time and allows her to just be a kid, as she no longer has to get therapies after school or on weekends.

The Occupational Therapy Program has been a blessing. Starlit looks forward to starting each day with a sensory diet! The therapists lead sessions that have shown her the impact movement has on her ability to learn, making learning fun and engaging. This has helped her improve her fine and gross motor skills, sensory integration, and has made a positive impact on her academics. It's beautiful to see Starlit so engaged and active in her education now!

I’m especially thankful for the Speech/Language Therapy Program. The pathologists took the time to truly understand Starlit's needs and created a tailored treatment plan that fit her well. The best part is that they collaborate closely with Starlit's teachers to foster effective communication throughout the school day. Because of this, Starlit has made major strides!

In just the first year, her speech/language improved significantly. She started to articulate her emotions, communicate her needs, and use the social skills and tools she learned at Miriam outside of the school environment!

Starlit is now in her second year at Miriam and thriving! She looks forward to school each day, truly loves learning again and is doing so much better academically! She enjoys pizza Fridays, participating in Miriam's Cardinals night and other events, and her favorite project was helping to build the Peace Bridge.

Her confidence is back, and so is her sparkling personality. This year, she is excited to be the "big" kid and strives to be a helper and set a good example for the younger children. It's been wonderful to see my child growing more confident in expressing herself, which is so important for her success in school and in building friendships. My momma's heart is so happy each time I see her walking down the hallways, making sure to say "Hello" to everyone she sees.

Miriam has not only been transformative for my child but has also been incredibly supportive of our entire family. They created a warm and trusting environment. Miriam has worked hard to provide resources that ensured our family could access their services equally, which meant the world to us.

Our family feels so grateful to be part of this loving and supportive community. As a parent, I finally have peace of mind that my child will not fall through the cracks. I know that each day my child feels safe, supported, and is with people who care for her not just as a student but as a person. 

I highly recommend Miriam to any parent of a unique learner, I know it's hard but don't give up advocating. No matter where life takes us, we will always feel proud to be part of the Miriam family!

We looked for the helpers and found the people who are helping.