There have been so many thoughts swirling around in my head about what to share with you this week, but in the end I went with what was in my heart.
In Pennsylvania, we have access to Behavioral Health Rehabilitation Services through Medical Assistance. Having a behavior specialist consultant and therapeutic support staff has allowed Michael to successfully attend regular daycare while I am at work, as well as to focus on various behavioral skills needed at home and in the community. This program has been a great blessing to us over the last few years.
One of the things you learn as you allow various professionals into your lives, however, is that those people will also move out of your life at some point.
When his first support person abruptly left the agency only three days after we met her, Michael was matched up with a wonderful woman who worked with him for over 18 months. This turned out to be quite a record, because in the year after she left to have a baby, he had four different support staff as well as eight weeks with no one at all!
He was finally assigned a new person in January of this year, and we have been incredibly happy with her. Not only is Joy a great fit with his personality and needs, but we have also been impressed again and again by her dedication and her willingness to go above and beyond the requirements of the job. Her name is a true reflection of her personality.
Well, Joy is now moving on. She was recruited by an organization she interned with during college, for a position that is a step towards the ultimate dreams that brought her into social work. I am happy for her and truly believe that the Lord has great plans in store for her life, but this transition also comes with sadness, both for me and for Michael.
How do I tell him this person he loves and feels safe with is leaving? I mean, I know how to tell him – I can write a story and show him on the calendar and answer all his questions and be understanding when he keeps bringing it up and push the agency to get someone new assigned before school starts, but how do I tell him this news when it makes me cry just to think about it? If it is so hard for me, how will a six year old with a social communication disorder handle this type of disappointment?
After today, we have one more week before Joy leaves the agency and we, hopefully, meet a new support staff person. Although it is difficult, we will keep moving forward and being thankful for the help we are receiving and the progress we are seeing. And we will keep opening our hearts to new friends and new blessings.
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