Unconditional Love

Without supportive programs like Christian Appalachian Project’s (CAP) child development centers, many children and their families in the region would fall through the cracks. This year, CAP’s Parents Are Teachers initiative celebrated 45 years of providing early intervention to children with developmental delays.

“It’s a ministry for me where I can provide hope and transform lives by providing different resources and walking alongside families who may be unsure of the future,” said Suzann Fenton. She has been with CAP for 37 years and has served as a teacher in Parents Are Teachers for the past 35 years. “Without Parents Are Teachers and CAP, a lot of families wouldn’t have hope. They wouldn’t know where they would go or don’t have a support system to help them. Parents Are Teachers has truly changed my life. I just can’t express how grateful I am for this opportunity to serve.”

Fenton’s drive to help children reach their full potential comes from personal experience. She herself struggled through school and was told by her guidance counselor she would never be accepted into college, let alone make it through her classes. She learned in that moment that people can make a difference in their own lives if they are willing to work at it rather than accepting judgment that has been passed on them.

In her role, she has served hundreds of children in Eastern Kentucky. At times, Fenton meets families at their lowest, after they have been informed their child may never walk, talk, or thrive. She approaches her work with compassion and unconditional love, and without judgment. She strives to help each child reach their full potential as well as demonstrate to the parent how they can offer support and be an advocate for their child.

In one case, Fenton met a single mother with three children one week before the COVID-19 pandemic shutdown. The youngest son, who was nearly 2 years old at the time, had a rare genetic condition that impacted his development and overall health. When Fenton visited their home, the little boy spent most of his time lying on his back with little movement, not interacting with anyone or anything around him. His mother was told he would never walk or talk.

Fenton connected the boy with physical therapy, occupational therapy, and speech therapy, and although facing pandemic closures and restrictions, she consistently did sessions virtually with the boy and his mother. After a year of hard work, the boy was able to sit up on his own and scoot around the room, and he could pull himself up to stand with a walker. He started to smile, play, and, for the first time, look his mother in the eye.

“It’s amazing to see the difference that can be made in the lives of families through Parents Are Teachers,” Fenton said.

Another highlight of her career happened this school year. A child she worked with in his early life is attending CAP’s Family Life Child Development Center. Each day, she sees the difference made in his life by the early intervention services she provided and rejoices that he is reaching his full potential. He is excelling in school, follows daily routines, and listens intently to his teachers. Whether it’s a child or parent she helped years ago or a teacher she worked alongside, Fenton is hopeful for the ministry that will continue through her time with Parents Are Teachers and the lives that are changed because of it.

“I hope that I have made a difference in people’s lives through living out our mission. CAP truly cares about people. We want to help make an impact in their lives,” she said. “I am thankful for what CAP has done for me and for the work the organization has done in ministering to others for the past 60 years.”