Since she started preschool, Jaeda was always very quiet. Although she spoke to us at home and was bubbly with her sisters, she was always reserved and refused to say a word at school.  At first, we figured she was a very shy girl being that we, both her parents, are sort of shy. But when the problem persisted once she started kindergarten, we became worried and we took her to her pediatrician . She was diagnosed with Selective Mutism, an anxiety disorder characterized by a child’s inability to speak and communicate in certain social settings.

The school put her in speech therapy, which we knew she did not need because she spoke constantly to us at home, and after that did not work  they removed her from it. The teachers all knew she was and still is a bright child, to the point that she made student of the month and the teachers wanted her to help out her peers who were struggling with work in her class. But that was impossible with her being non-verbal.

A few months passed and a new teacher took over her class. This teacher turned out to be amazing, as she went out of her way to encourage and help our daughter come out of her shell and Jaeda made a little progress. By April, we were referred to take her to weekly therapy meetings.  Although the therapy started off rocky, it eventually began to work and Jaeda started to show progress as she became more playful and talkative with her Girl Scouts friends.  At her kindergarten graduation we stood in awe as we saw Jaeda singing and dancing along with her friends.  We could not stop crying with tears of joy and could not believe what we were witnessing.

With the school year over and Girls Scouts finishing for summer vacation, we continued to take Jaeda to the weekly therapy, encouraged by the progress she had made. But then, the day after our baby shower in July, Jaeda simply stopped talking altogether without explanation. She would not say a word to any of us, not even to her sisters.

Today, it has been more than six months since we last heard Jaeda’s beautiful voice. Although we have continued to take her to weekly therapy, we have only seen very marginal improvements. She still does not speak to anyone, not even us.

We heard about the amazing work SMart Center in PA does and we want to try everything we can to help our beautiful and smart daughter overcome her anxiety. This coming summer they are hosting a summer camp for children, who like her, have Selective Mutism. The camp and the therapies provided by SMart Center have helped many children, often only after a few sessions. However, insurance does not cover the sessions and we must pay out of pocket the almost prohibitive fees.

We want to do everything in our power to help our Jaeda be the bubbly and happy girl that she is, and this is why we put our hearts in your hands. We ask for your small token of love so the world can hear our beloved Jaeda speak again. Your donations, not matter how small, will go a long way to help us give our daughter the treatment she needs.

Jaeda, all we want is to hear your bubbly voice again. Do not worry baby girl, we understand you. It may be hard on you when kids ask and wonder why you do not talk and it may frustrate you when you cannot express your feelings.  But mami and papi, and Luna, Ciara and Charley, we understand you and we are here for you. We love you, our little star. ⭐️