My son, Mark, was born at 27 weeks and 4 days. He weighed 1 pound and 7 ounces at birth, and we spent 115 days in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. As a first-time mom, I remember the personal...
“I think my child has an eating disorder.”
Just this week, I’ve talked to multiple Jacksonville moms with children experiencing eating disorders. Each mother and father explain in detail the distress their child and family are going through. I quietly...
The Villages of Hope (VOH) started as a vision and dream to help female victims of sex trafficking. I started by visiting programs all over the country for inspiration and decided on using the Thistle Farms model — they...
Down Syndrome doesn't mean disability. It means learning to see the ability.
Down Syndrome doesn't mean life as you know it is over. It means your life is just beginning.
When I was pregnant and learned my baby’s diagnosis of Trisomy...
Families who were already struggling to afford basic essential needs during the pandemic are now facing a heavier burden as the price of diapers rises nearly 14 percent, and companies have stated prices will rise again. Furthermore, diapers are...
No matter your child’s age or reason for being admitted to Wolfson Children’s Hospital, it is never easy or enjoyable. Hospital rooms are set up for medical purposes — they aren’t meant to feel like home. But that’s where...
I always admired friends who had career aspirations. Some wanted to be a nurse or get business degrees in college. Many went off to school and did just that. I never knew what I wanted to be when I...
When I think about my childhood, I have many great memories of volunteering: Neighborhood cleanup, helping build a house for a family with Habitat for Humanity and then sponsoring the same family for Thanksgiving and Christmas in the same...
It's crucial that we celebrate the work that our community members do throughout the year to support deserving non-profits. And, it’s also important to continue to help encourage volunteering throughout the coming months. But, volunteering has definitely looked different...
This has been a year unlike any other. Children have been learning from their living rooms and through computer screens for nearly a year, educators continue to navigate new technology and teaching methods, and many workplaces remain closed.
As the...
Celestial Farms is in danger of shutting down due to budget cuts from the COVID-19 pandemic, which could leave hundreds of beloved rescue animals without a home. The non-profit animal rescue and educational center in North Jacksonville serves as...
Wolfson Children’s Challenge races on, finding new ways to honor patients and raise funds amid COVID-19 pandemic.
If 2020 has taught us anything, it’s that people are resilient, constantly adapting to whatever life throws their way. But this is...