In many ways, Jeremiah's life is a miracle.  He is the biological son of a schizophrenic father and a mother with severe cerebral palsy.  She does not walk, cannot talk, and most probably should not have become pregnant.

The doctor's had to perform an emergency C-section at J's birth, due to the obstruction of air via the umbilical cord.  When they lifted his little body out of her womb it was flaccid.  He had been without air for seven minutes. 

When he was finally revived he was sent to the NICU department and kept until he was strong enough to leave.  During the tests it was discovered he suffered some hearing loss.  Later, J would attend speech therapy to assist him with making correct sounds.

Due to his birth trauma, he was always behind in his developmental stages. But, that was not the worst of his problems. 

Once home, his parents were selfish, neglectful and incompetent.  He was removed from the home after being left alone at several different times.  His paternal grandparents went to court to get Foster Parent custody of him and they eventually adopted him when they were in their 60's.  J would end up being their last child, of six, that they raised.

Jeremiah had many irrational fears, as he grew up.  His traumas created a foundation of fear and feelings of inadequacy.  He had friendships through the encouragement of his new parents, who arranged play dates, and he enjoyed this, but his sorrows were not over.

At age 9, 'Mama' became terminially ill with lung cancer.  She died on Christmas morning, 2003.  J became closer than ever to 'Papa'.  During the time of being raised by his grandfather, the family dog died.  It appeared that he would continue to be faced at a very young age with issues of death and neglect.

At age 14, Jeremiah's beloved 'Papa' died suddenly of a heart attack, and it was J who found him on the kitchen floor, his body cold to the touch.  J would start his next phase of life with relatives.

Jeremiah was sent to live with his uncle, but had to give up all that was familiar to him-his music lessons, his school, and his church.  He did not fit into his new school or home and there began a series of failures.  His grades dropped, as his anger rose.  His uncle would call other relatives to talk about his difficulties and how to handle them, but the behavior changed very little.

After that year, Jeremiah was invited to live with his Aunt in a rural area in NC.  That was another huge change for him.  Before arriving, he was required to have a neurolgical test to determine if there had been any birth damage, and if so, what it might be.  The results revealed that he had extensive parts of the brain that were affected for logic and reason, and some types of math that required depth perception-like geometric figures.  The other important finding was that he had Autistic traits.  That explained much of the behavior he exhibited.

In his new environnentm he still struggled, but tried to fit into school and soon was making positive progress.  The classrooms were smaller and there was more individual attention from the teachers. In fact, he was awarded the school's community character trait of: Perseverance.  He was honored with a plaque and recognized in an assembly with other students.

Perseverance is the right word for his determination.  He has persevered through many losses, early in life.  He has stayed the course through the tough times of his education.  And, along the way, he has survived, and thrived, in practical living skills to become an independent young man ready for college.

Jeremiah graduated from his high school with A's and B's.  It was one of the most gratifying days, he would later say.  He moved onto a college that was not a good fit for him.  Rather than give up, he changed colleges and is currently finishing his Associates Degree. 

Because of his unsuccessful start, he will not be eligible to finish his BA with Federal loans.  He is determined to not take out any private loans.

Due to his neurological difficulties of logic and reasoning, as well as his anxiety, Jeremiah had little success in obtaining work during his adolescence.  He has, however, held volunteer positions at a local hospital and through the election polls.

He is reaching out to others via the Gofundme process to ask for financial help.  He is determined, one way or another, to finish his degree in English, which he excels in.  As noted earlier, this young man has a great deal of perseverance and there is no doubt, in my opinion, that he won't reach his goals.

If you find it in your heart to assist him in any way possible, by contributing, or sharing his story, it would be most appreciated.

There are many times when I think of how the cards have been stacked against him from the start, and I read his bio as if it is fiction, knowing all of it is true, and am in awe.

How do I know that all of these facts are true?  I am an RN and the Aunt that took him in and raised him, taught him, guided him, and loved him through his high school years.  Sometimes it was tough love, as all you parents know; sometimes it was a tender caring...and other times, it was just plain lessons: how to cook, how to do laundry, trial and error.   

Jeremiah is reaching out, and so am I.  Unfortunately, I cannot help him financially, or I would.  I will always continue to support him through problem solving and love.

May you be blessed on your individual journeys, the way this incredible young man has been in so many ways.

Thank you from both Jeremiah and myself,

Sincerely,

Denise Handlon