In this heart-felt letter, Kelly shares her story, a story of a mother and daughter and their sometimes difficult journey. But it is also a story of hope and how they came to receive services from Communitas. She hopes you’ll support other families like hers, this Christmas!

When I think about my daughter, all I can say is that everything about her is a gift. I love her so much. Jadacey makes me appreciate everything in life. We’ve had a hard journey together but she has made me stronger.

I was a single mom when Jadacey was born. There was nothing to suggest that she wasn’t a healthy baby girl. I took her to the doctor for regular visits and although she wasn’t reaching milestones at the same rate as other children, her doctors never expressed a high concern.

But when Jadacey was 5 months old, she began shaking and making repetitious sounds. I raced to the hospital with my baby girl. She was in hospital for two and a half months. They did test after test and tried different medications, even giving her adult medications that made her really sick. It was really hard to see her suffer.

Eventually, Jadacey was diagnosed with severe epilepsy. When we left the hospital, the doctor told me that most babies with this condition don’t typically live past the age of two. It’s a moment that I’ll never forget. I was in shock. My mom was with me and we started crying but something in me changed. I looked at my mom and told her to stop crying. I said, Jadacey isn’t going anywhere!

What followed was years of doctors trying to figure out the best way to treat Jadacey. At first, I tried going back to work leaving her with an aide but the aide was unable to give Jadacey consistent care. I ended up losing my job. I decided to apply for social assistance so that I could care for Jadacey on my own but even that became too much. As she got bigger, it was too hard for me to lift her in and out of the car. I was exhausted from waking up at night when she needed me – my body was just shutting down from sheer exhaustion. I just couldn’t do it anymore. The hardest things were admitting that I wasn’t able to give her the care that I wanted to give her and accept that it would be selfish of me to try and continue.

That’s when I discovered Communitas. One of their homes specializes in care for children like Jadacey who live with complex medical needs. I was able to spend the whole day with her until she was at sleep at night, as we both transitioned to Jadacey living in her own home. It was as much a transition for me as it was for her – Jadacey is my whole life! Jadacey has been with Communitas now for a decade and has received life-changing care.

This is why I’m sharing my story with you today – to tell you how Communitas has created a home for me and my daughter and to ask you to support Communitas so that others can continue to find a place to call home.

Jadacey has grown into a lovely young adult woman. Jadacey continues to receive person-centred, quality care. She is thriving! Very soon, she and her roommates will move into a brand new, purpose-built home. The staff who love and care for her will come along.

Not only has this person-centred care made a difference for Jadacey, it has made a huge difference for me too. I am still involved in her life. Since Jadacey came to Communitas, I have had two sons, Rylan and Ryder – brothers for Jadacey. We visit Jadacey whenever we can and I’m so grateful that they all have a good relationship.

Knowing that Jadacey is in a safe, loving home has meant even more to me in recent months. I was diagnosed with cancer earlier this year and have had to undergo difficult treatments. It has meant that I haven’t been able to see Jadacey as often as I want to but I know that she is in a home that has everything she needs for her every day care, provided by staff who truly love her. It is such a blessing to me. It gives me peace of heart and mind.

I never imagined that Jadacey would grow up to have a place that she can call home and that she would have such good care.

I think that at the heart of this is the person-centred care that Communitas provides for all the people they serve. It is part of everything they do – from the staff they hire to the homes they build, they’re always thinking about the people they serve and how they can provide the best care possible.

This is why I hope you’ll make a donation to Communitas this Christmas. Without compassionate donors like you, children like Jadacey would not have a place to call home.

When you stand behind the incredible staff like those who care for my daughter, you are ensuring that person-centred care is provided for all who need it. You’re helping another family find the support that makes a difference in their lives.

I wish you and your family a wonderful Christmas. Thank you for taking the time to read my story and for helping other families find a place to call home.

Yours truly,

Kelly Wheeler, Jadacey’s grateful mom.