Beating the Odds

Jacob Mason reunites with Suzann Fenton nearly 20 years after she helped him as a preschooler.

BY KATE UNDERWOOD

When Linda and Frank Mason welcomed their oldest son, Jacob, into the world, they didn’t know where his journey would lead. He experienced severe birth injuries and spent six days in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. Linda was a young mother at only 19, and this was her first child. She and her husband expected Jacob might have some developmental delays but didn’t know how daunting those delays would be. Eventually he was diagnosed with cerebral palsy and highfunctioning autism.

Suzann Fenton, with Christian Appalachian Project’s (CAP) Parents Are Teachers Program, provided a variety of therapy interventions for Jacob beginning at age 3. CAP also provided in-home respite for the family as they faced the many challenges associated with his special needs. “My parents have told me over the years that CAP programs have improved my outcome in life,” Jacob said.

Linda added, “Suzann was the developmental interventionist and came out about once a week, sometimes more. CAP staff and volunteers worked on motor skills, speech, and sensory therapy, but I couldn’t have made it without my husband Frank too. He worked his job and then would still help with Jacob no matter how tired he was when he came home.” Many of the skills Jacob needed to master were difficult for him to acquire. “The therapists would work on skills to help him be able to feed himself, talk, crawl, dress, walk, write, and work on things most kids would learn on their own eventually without therapy,” Linda said. “Jacob was not learning those skills and, without Suzann, we wouldn’t have known what to do. She worked with him and taught us as well, that helped him get to where he is today. When Jacob sets his mind to something, he does it.”

Jacob added, “Early intervention is the key for many kids with disabilities because the earlier you start the interventions, the better the outcome.” That certainly proved to be the case with him.

In 2014, Jacob graduated from Lincoln County High School in the top 15 percent of his class. He started his college education at Bluegrass Community and Technical College and graduated summa cum laude in 2019 from Eastern Kentucky University with a bachelor’s degree in statistics and minors in both math and psychology.

“I am thrilled that Jacob has had the opportunity to reach his full potential,” said Fenton, who has worked with CAP’s Parents Are Teachers Program for over 30 years. “I worked to be loving, kind, and supportive to the Mason family. It is amazing to see how far Jacob and his family have come since that time.”

Jacob and Suzann, along with his parents, recently had a chance to reunite and discuss Jacob’s success. Renee’ Thomas, Jacob’s aunt and a respite assistant in CAP’s Elderly Services Program, helped orchestrate the reunion. He works for the University of Kentucky’s Human Development Institute as a data assistant and also is a substitute teacher for the Lincoln County School District.

“I didn’t remember Suzann because I was so young,” he explained, “but I was glad she helped me. I was happy that she was happy to see me and to see how far I’ve come along in life. She was in awe, as well as in tears. I was glad for the reunion so that she’ll be able to use me as an example for her other clients.”

Linda concluded, “It was a blessing to see Suzann after 20 years and let Jacob tell her how much he has accomplished in his life. We are grateful for all that CAP did to help Jacob and our family.”

Suzann Fenton, with Christian Appalachian Project’s Parents Are Teachers Program, used a variety of therapies with Jacob Mason to address developmental delays.