3 minute read
Milestones and Favorite Memories of 2023
In 2023 our Special Needs Living-Detroit/Metro & Surrounding Areas family and friends have been busy making incredible memories and achieving amazing millstones!
KAELYN, MCKEON, LIAM, REMY ROGERS:
All four of my special kids have shown incredible resilience this year. They have encountered and overcome many challenges. Kaelyn (7) is finding her voice and place among her older brothers. She is pushing through academic challenges and rising above them. McKeon (12) is facing and conquering medical anxiety with the help of a wonderful therapist and supportive parents and siblings. Liam (14) continues to find his place in the world and make connections despite his autism. He has joined the percussion ensemble at the local school and continues to enjoy complex science classes. Remy (16) has earned his driver’s license after overcoming night driving challenges and a bad optometry experience. He continues to work hard in his job and orchestra while he searches for his next steps in life and becomes his own person. I couldn’t choose just one kid or accomplishment as they have all overcome so much this year to push for their futures despite their challenges.
AKIN BERRY:
This is from our camping trip at Addison Oaks here in Michigan. This year we were only able to get in two trips, one in the Chicago area and the one at Addison Oaks. In 2022 we traveled about 11,000 miles (between May and October). If there are other families who RV, I would sure love to get in touch with them. The camper I currently have is not modified. I use the stairclimber to get Akin into the camper (the yellow and black chair sitting next to him). And I use a transport chair within the camper. The truck has a link seat that descends and ascends. And for long “hikes,” I have a folding electric wheelchair- the longest was about 5 miles in one of the national parks.
NICOLAS MELLAS:
My 33-year-old son Nicolas Mellas, who has Down Syndrome and ASD, regained his health and returned to his baseline level of functioning after a 39-day hospitalization in late 2022. He nearly lost his life after choking on a chicken nugget in his day program. He was on a ventilator for 11 days and required intensive physical and occupational therapy to learn to stand and walk again. Thanks to the prayers of friends and family, talented and committed physicians, therapists and nurses and Nicolas’s tenacity and perseverance, he is strong, happy and fully enjoying life.
