Dear Teachers, Parapros, Administration & Staff,

I just wanted to thank you for all you did this year to help Gage and Quinn. You have my heartfelt gratitude for the positive approach you all had with them and with us. You all were the PERFECT group of people for them. We were so, so lucky.

I don’t think you can ever know the depth of my appreciation for how much respect you showed Gage this year. I know you understand how sad and angry he was because of past experiences and I appreciate you helping him hold it together. He was (still is, really) literally falling apart from the inside out. Most of the school year we were beyond sad and scared for him. Every single day that we sent him off to school we were worried about him like you wouldn’t believe.

I want to thank you for your care and concern for Gage and Quinn as people before them as students. The entire year, I felt that you have always had their best interests at heart. Both for Gage’s emotional struggles and Quinn’s unstable health.

It was challenging sending Gage to school during his more emotionally fragile periods because of my worry for him. I’m unable to express to you how comforting it was to know that Gage was being embraced completely; in spite of his challenges. I’ve watched you interact with him and I can’t tell you how refreshing it was to watch all of you, especially those of you that worked closely with him daily.

Gage and Quinn’s acceptance by other kids is always one of my greatest worries for them. Thank you for accepting their uniqueness and celebrating their achievements. I think your genuine acceptance of them is the reason their classmates accepted them too. I will forever be grateful to you for surrounding them with love, protection, and encouragement.

When you have a “different” child, a child “who marches to his own drum” and one who is considered “difficult” it is stressful on everyone in the family, too. Yet somehow in spite of all of his Gageness, he still (just barely) passed 3rd grade. You all held him together with sheer determination and resilience. His passing to 4th is a testament to your dedication to teach every child, even those who learn differently. I know on that day – the day I found out he passed – you were crying tears of relief and joy with me.

As Quinn moves closer to her kidney transplant I feel relieved to know that she will be loved through it by her school community just as Gage.

Thank you for your kindness, your understanding and your unrelenting determination to help Gage and Quinn become whole people – in spite of all they suffer. Thanks for loving them.

Many thanks and heartfelt gratitude,

Gage and Quinn’s proud Momma