Joni and Friends Brings Special Needs Families to Faith
Before Dillion’s birth, his parents, Sandy and Joe, had every reason to believe he would be healthy. No illnesses ran in the family. They already had one thriving daughter, Alisha, and Sandy’s second pregnancy went as smoothly as her first.
When Dillion was born, the nurse commented, “I have never seen this coloring on a baby.” But doctors didn’t seem alarmed. So Sandy and Joe thought all was well with their new baby boy…
Then, at three months old, Dillion had a seizure—the first of many. Sandy and Joe quickly grew overwhelmed. As Sandy says:
“Dillion was in and out of the hospital all the time. It was very scary, and we had no people, no family, no community to help.”
After a stressful and painstaking process, Dillion eventually got his diagnoses: a seizure disorder, global developmental delays, and Sturge-Weber syndrome, a rare vascular neurological disorder characterized by a facial birthmark, abnormal blood vessels in the brain, and eye abnormalities like glaucoma.
For Sandy, Dillion’s early years overflowed with grief. She felt profoundly isolated and remembers crying constantly. While Dillion loved to be around people, Sandy hesitated to take him places because people stared at him, and other children wouldn’t play with him.
“I was lonely, sad, and tired,” says Sandy.
Stressed about Dillion’s health and wellbeing, Sandy had no energy for her daughter, or her marriage. Then, another special needs mom told Sandy about a Joni and Friends Family Retreat. “As soon as I saw the flyer, I knew that I wanted my family to go!”
At their first Family Retreat, Sandy felt amazed. She and her family members could do things that were usually impossible.
“I could get a massage, connect with other parents going through similar things, have a date with my husband, and spend time with my daughter.
And I could not understand how all the people at Family Retreat could love and care for Dillion so much. They touched him and talked to him, and you could see the joy on his face!”
Sandy
When Sandy asked people how they could love her son so much, they pointed to Jesus, and invited her family to church. The message of Christ’s saving grace took root in Sandy’s heart, and she decided to follow Jesus.
Now Dillion and his family attend Family Retreat every year. Dillion’s sister, Alisha, helps with the children’s programs at Retreat. As for Dillion… this summer he enjoyed the bounce house, giggling and laughing like never before.
“Dillion loves, loves Family Retreat!” says Sandy.
To this day, Dillion’s disabilities bring difficulties into his family’s life. They have therapy appointments almost every day. And as Dillion gets older, caring for him and transporting him gets physically harder. But they have new strength now, through faith and the support of a church community. Sandy thanks Joni and Friends for making a life-changing difference for her family.
You can make a transformational difference for families like Dillion’s, in Minnesota and across the globe.
Support Joni and Friends Minnesota
Your gift today will allow special needs families to find respite, hope, and faith through Family Retreat and other Christ-centered programs.
