Help Stephanie raise money

My son, Elliot will turn 20 in August. He is on the severe end of the autism spectrum and has been a student at The New England Center for Children for the past 17 years. This August I will run the Falmouth Road Race as part of Team NECC to support their incredible efforts and to honor Elliot. 

His life has been extraordinary.  Elliot has faced challenges at every turn starting with an unfathomable diagnosis of infant leukemia at three months old. The doctors could barely look at us when forced to share the grim news- survival for Elliot was a long shot. Indeed, most babies die from infant leukemia before their first birthday. 

After Elliot survived a grueling two years of cancer treatment he was confronted with another horrible diagnosis. This time a different doctor shared the devastating news that Elliot is severely autistic and would likely never talk. 

In late September of 2008, we enrolled a tiny, three year old Elliot into NECC's intensive preschool. This decision, made during some of the most difficult days of our lives, is one we have never regretted. 

Every summer I train in the heat and humidity to show up at the Falmouth starting line with Team NECC.  I run because although Elliot does not "talk" the way most of us do, the incredible staff at NECC has spent the past 17 years slowly and steadily opening the world to him.

Through the use of his communication device and gradual improvement in his vocal approximations over the years, we know Elliot recognizes his whole family and can identify our names and faces, we know what he wants to order for lunch from a menu, we know when he needs help buttoning his shirt and when he wants more jelly beans. We know he can count and that he loves mariachi music. 

I often think of the kid I dropped off at NECC's preschool. Elliot was completely non-verbal, frustrated, seemingly lost and isolated from the world around him. 

I humbly ask for your support this summer. Elliot's perseverance and his insistence on finding reasons to smile make it easy to recognize the incredible work done by NECC helping kids like Elliot find their path forward. 

With immense gratitude,

Stephanie