{"id":58655,"date":"2017-08-21T14:06:54","date_gmt":"2017-08-21T19:06:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/gigisplayhouse.org\/mchenry\/?p=58655"},"modified":"2017-08-21T14:06:54","modified_gmt":"2017-08-21T19:06:54","slug":"321-days-acceptance-love-stronger-death","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/gigisplayhouse.org\/mchenry\/awareness\/321-days-acceptance-love-stronger-death","title":{"rendered":"321 Days of Acceptance | Love is Stronger than Death"},"content":{"rendered":"

Today we have a very special little lady to introduce you to, Amina Grace. \u00a0Amina\u2019s mom is going to share with us today the impact and legacy this hardworking, smart and inspiring young lady had on all who knew her. \u00a0\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

I would like to share with you the reason I am so passionate about the mission of acceptance and GiGi\u2019s Playhouse. \u00a0\u00a0It\u2019s because of our precious our daughter Amina Grace. \u00a0\u00a0When Amina was born, we were told she had Down syndrome, the doctors and nurses told us how sorry they were to give us this news. \u00a0We didn\u2019t know what to expect of our child or our lives.
\nDespite all the worry from the doctors, Amina was a delightful child and we began our journey with hearts full of hope. \u00a0She laughed easily, had a free spirit and enjoyed even simple things. \u00a0Amina worked hard to do basic tasks that many of us take for granted\u2026walking, talking, even eating. \u00a0Despite things being hard Amina took on new challenges with gusto \u2013 she swang from the bars and mastered the beam in gymnastics, she learned to ride a bike, swim and could dance with the best of them.<\/p>\n

By watching Amina, we learned it\u2019s not about how quickly one can master something but that if you have the patience to stick with it, eventually you will get it done. \u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

As Amina started to grow we wanted to find a place where she could thrive, a place where they would see the best in her\u2026a place where she had value and could reach her full potential.
\nWe found GiGi\u2019s Playhouse. These Playhouses are a place for families to celebrate their child and benefit from no cost, purposeful & progressive programs that bring joy, confidence and improvement.<\/p>\n

Amina learned to read through the Literacy program and loved attending events at the Playhouse. \u00a0She was really blossoming. \u00a0In addition to going to GiGi\u2019s Playhouse, Amina had other therapies to support her development\u2026speech therapy, physical therapy and occupational therapy. \u00a0Progress was slow but steady. \u00a0Many of the therapy sessions were not easy but Amina took them in stride and worked hard. \u00a0Having a disability can be hard, but hard things aren\u2019t always bad. \u00a0In fact, they often come with incredible blessings \u2013 Amina\u2019s life is proof of that.<\/p>\n

Our family\u2019s life was wonderful \u2013 we spent lots of time together and had found a peaceful rhythm. I loved being Amina\u2019s mom. On September 17, 2014, due to a mistake at the hospital Amina suddenly and tragically passed away. \u00a0Unbelievably I watched my child die.<\/p>\n

Losing Amina Grace took me to my knees but if I\u2019ve ever been sure of anything, it is this: \u00a0Amina was sent here to this Earth to work through us to inspire others. \u00a0To change people. \u00a0To open people\u2019s hearts to endless possibilities.<\/strong><\/p>\n

I am living for both of us now.\u00a0I will never see her graduate from kindergarten, join girl scouts, go to prom or learn to drive. \u00a0The sadness is overwhelming some days. \u00a0But I vowed to honor her life and make it my mission for people to see the possibilities in those with Down syndrome. \u00a0I want them to see what I saw in Amina.<\/p>\n

I learned many things from losing Amina. \u00a0I learned there is space in the human heart for joy and pain, peace and anger, hope and sadness to all reside. \u00a0I learned I can keep her spirit alive by seeking out joy and replace sorrow with kindness and compassion for those who need it the most. \u00a0I learned that starting the speech & language program at GiGi\u2019s Playhouse in her name brings me peace. \u00a0I learned life is precious.<\/p>\n

I learned that love is stronger than death.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Thank you, Maura, for sharing Amina with us today, thank you for working so hard to do the work she inspired in you.\u00a0 Amina Grace has a strong legacy and all at GiGi\u2019s Playhouse will work right alongside you to make her proud.<\/p>\n

If you would like to learn more about the Amina Grace Speech and Language Program & the locations who will be offering it please visit us HERE.<\/a><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Today we have a very special little lady to introduce you to, Amina Grace. \u00a0Amina\u2019s mom is going to share with us today the impact and legacy this hardworking, smart and inspiring young lady had on all who knew her. \u00a0 I would like to share with you the reason I am so passionate about…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":9,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[21],"tags":[117],"class_list":["post-58655","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-awareness","tag-amina-grace-speech-and-language-program"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/gigisplayhouse.org\/mchenry\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/58655","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/gigisplayhouse.org\/mchenry\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/gigisplayhouse.org\/mchenry\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gigisplayhouse.org\/mchenry\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/9"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gigisplayhouse.org\/mchenry\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=58655"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/gigisplayhouse.org\/mchenry\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/58655\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/gigisplayhouse.org\/mchenry\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=58655"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gigisplayhouse.org\/mchenry\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=58655"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gigisplayhouse.org\/mchenry\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=58655"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}