In addition to becoming a full-time stay at home mom. My resumé has now expanded to advocate, grant seeker, and fundraiser! 

 

According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the estimated cost to raise a child from birth to 18 is $240,000. The estimated cost to raise a child with disabilities over their lifetime is 1.4 - 2.4 million. 🤯 The more severe the disability, the more expensive the lifetime cost. 

 

It became apparent to us quickly that our income, although great and supports our day to day living - simply does not afford us the specialized needs of Amelia. 

 

It’s been heart breaking to learn of life changing therapy and simply not be able to afford to say yes to going immediately. 💔 As you can attest, all parents want to give the world to their children. 

Insurance claims are an instant denial due to the therapist seeing the child 2x/day. Our insurance covers 1 visit a week, could you imagine their jaws hitting the floor at a 10 visit a week request...for a 2 week period?! 

 

My heartbreak fueled my fire to go after what Amelia needs and to see what's possible. That’s where I found help through @advocacy.abby on instagram. (What an incredible resource for special needs families! Expert level care!) 🫶🏼 She helped me navigate the overwhelming pages of grants to apply for and also helped me set up our fundraising page that you’re apart of! 

 

Without these new job titles of mine, Amelia would have to do without this life-changing support. The reality is, insurance doesn’t begin to cover all needs of a child that requires specialized care and specialized equipment, especially over a lifetime. 

 

We hope to see support come through grants that want to gift financial support and equipment to children just like Amelia! We have been told that grant applications are a marathon and will come in time and with diligence. We have already been rejected from 2 applications due to a lack of funding on their end. We will try again next year. 

 

And we are grateful to be blessed with our community (y’all!) for being apart of funding Amelia’s very first PT intensive.  🙌🏼  Blessed truly doesn’t even seem to cover how we feel about y’all. 

 

*And a moment of laughs for her photo above where she held dad's credit card while waiting for our check at brunch after her Dr's appointment...she was 3 months old! What foreshadowing that photo is, that she'd be needing dad's credit card quite a bit more than we knew at the time!