Help with Expenses for Gracie’s Feeding Program

This fundraiser is to help out with expenses for our family, so that Gracie may get the help she desperately needs.

A year ago, I met Amy and fell in love with her for many reasons. One of the most beautiful things about her is her heart and how she loves others. I could see how much she loved my 14-year old daughter, Gracie, from the beginning. It didn’t matter to Amy that Gracie was severely autistic and nonverbal and that I had full custody of her. In fact, Amy decided she wanted to do everything she could to help Gracie improve her quality of life. Gracie, as with most other severely autistic children, will not eat most foods. In fact, Gracie only eats about 10 different foods, which can be very challenging. Shortly after I met Amy, we decided to try to get Gracie into the Marcus Autism Center’s Feeding Program. We had the referral placed and then we waited…and waited.

On May 1st, Amy and I got married and the five of us became one family. I’m so thankful for her and the sacrifices she has made for our family. She does so much to care for all of us, but especially Gracie, who has so many needs due to her autism and being nonverbal.

Well, we finally got the call and Gracie met with the team at Marcus and they felt she needed intensive therapy. It consists of all day therapy, M-F, for 8 weeks. One of us has to be with her during her sessions, and Amy never hesitated and said she would be the one to go. We got a call this week and they want Gracie to start this coming Tuesday, September 7th! We are so excited for Gracie and are hopeful this will work and allow her to be able to add an additional 10-20 more foods to her choices of preferred foods, which will help make meal times better for everyone and help Gracie eat a more balanced diet, which is most important.

Even though Amy really didn’t want me to ask for financial help, I felt it was the best thing I could do to help take some additional stress off of her. She had to quit her job and will be living in Atlanta during the week for the next 2 months, which we have to pay for out of pocket. This will be more challenging, since Amy no longer has income. This will be tough on all of us, but Gracie is worth it and really needs this program.

If you’re able to help give financially, then we thank you for any amount your heart leads you to give. There is no donation too small. If you’re unable to give, then we ask for your prayers during this time. Please keep my family in your thoughts and prayers during this time as this will be tough on all of us. We specifically ask you pray for Gracie and that they are successful with her and that she is able to add more preferred foods to her diet.

Thank you all so much and may God bless you back more abundantly for your kindness shown to our family.