Dear Gage’s Teacher,

This time of year is as fitting as ever to tell you how thankful we are that you are in Gage’s life.

Last year around this time we were finishing up the details on Gage’s IEP and figuring out if our neighborhood school could serve him. We knew we would need to move. By February we were visiting schools in this area and searching for homes. Fast forward to July, and we were getting settled in the area.

We knew we liked this school for many reasons. Caring staff, involved PTA, and close and convenient to our friends and family – who support us a lot in the trenches of Gage and Quinn’s care.

What we didn’t know is how special a place it was. How when we talked about Gage, people listened. They wanted to help enrich his life and help him be successful. And so many times already this year, we have said, that we moved at the right time to the right place.

I can’t communicate properly how special you are as a teacher and how I feel that fate has put you with Gage for very specific reasons. How you care for him (and are stern too!) and your loving teaching style with him has helped him make this transition to school. As you know, he has had so many struggles physically and emotionally this year with learning and increased medical treatment and testing, and I know that you have helped him immensely adjust to his new life.

Every time there is a new test, treatment, or his kidney function decreases we suffer a loss. And we always need some time to adjust to the realization that as each day passes, we’re closer to a transplant for him. So in addition to Gage’s many adjustments, you have treated us, as first-time Kindergarten parents of a special needs child, with respect and care. And you have no idea how much I appreciate that. 

Over the years since Gage was diagnosed with the vision disorder and the kidney disease we have seen numerous people regarding his care and development; therapists, doctors, teachers, evaluators and psychologists. And I can assure you that I will never forget the manner in which you have treated him and us.

Thank you for impacting Gage’s life, and ours as a family, in such a positive way – we will never forget that or take it for granted.

Gage’s Mom, Julia