November 2nd, 2011
 Jon-Jon’s parents were overjoyed when he was born. He was the little baby boy they’d waited so long for.
But when he was only 2 days old, Jon-Jon suffered a devastating stroke which left him to struggle with Cerebral Palsy, severe cognitive limitations and blindness for the rest of his life.
Doctors told his parents that he wouldn’t live to his first birthday.
His mother and father were heartbroken and deeply worried. But they loved Jon-Jon dearly and resolved to help him live his life to the fullest, one day at a time.
Jon-Jon’s journey hasn’t been easy. He can’t speak . . . → Read More: Jon-Jon’s Story of Hope
September 29th, 2011
 You can see the love and promise in a child’s smile.
Loni and Jim have seen it in James’ smile from the first day they met him. In fact, it was his smile that started them on a five year mission – a mission to ensure their son’s hopeful future.
“James had hold of us from day one,” his mother, Loni, says. “We couldn’t imagine life without him.”
James came to his adoptive parents at the age of two. He had been diagnosed with Down Syndrome, so they knew their son would have special needs as he grew.
But James seemed . . . → Read More: James’ Story of Hope
September 4th, 2011
 Carlie joined our Hope Institute family almost two years ago. She’s a beautiful girl with a bubbly personality. She lights up a room with her smile.
But because Carlie lives with Cerebral Palsy, autism and cognitive impairments, each day presents considerable challenges for her.
Carlie was born almost 5 months premature. She weighed less than 2 pounds and measured only 10 inches long. She needed round-the-clock care when she came home from the hospital.
“I was afraid when I realized what was ahead of us,” her mother, Tammy, explains. “But as Carlie grew, and her diagnoses became more complicated, our whole . . . → Read More: Carlie’s Story of Hope
August 3rd, 2011
When Ryan was born, he was just like any other baby. But then something went wrong. His brain stopped growing.
Neurologists from across the country have been unable to determine what happened. “Ryan is waiting for medical science to catch up,” says his dad, Scott.
Ryan didn’t speak. “He had a couple of words at age three, but then they left,” his mom, Julie, explains. His significant physical disabilities had relegated him to a wheelchair.
His parents tapped into every possible resource to help Ryan develop to the best of his abilities, but as he grew, so did their worries.
They . . . → Read More: Ryan’s Story of Hope
July 8th, 2011
 Marissa is an adorable girl with big brown eyes and the most genuine smile you’ve ever seen.
But because she lives with Down Syndrome, autism and Tourette Syndrome, every day is a significant challenge for her.
Before Marissa came to Hope, her moods would shift violently – from laughing and happily singing, to screaming and swinging her arms wildly at anyone within reach.
Her mother, Carol, is a special education teacher, so she was better equipped than most to care for a child with developmental disabilities. Still, she worried about what Marissa’s future would hold.
As Marissa grew older, Carol realized . . . → Read More: Marissa’s Story of Hope
June 30th, 2011
 Vote For Hope on July 2, 2011 in the Toyota 100 Cars for Good Program and you can help provide safe, reliable transportation for Hope’s children. Below you will find voting instructions, tips and ways you can help us win. . . . → Read More: One day, one vote, one Toyota for Hope
June 2nd, 2011
 Eddie used to struggle in the classroom and his family felt excluded from his education at his previous school. He has a type of autism that brings with it unique social and academic challenges. He needed personalized attention that his school could not provide.
“Before we found Hope, we had infrequent, short and meaningless meetings with Eddie’s teachers,” says Laura, Eddie’s mom. “He was falling through the cracks and no one noticed.”
But at The Hope Institute Learning Academy (HILA) in Chicago, teachers and staff are paying attention. They meet regularly with Laura, monitoring Eddie’s progress together and developing . . . → Read More: Eddie’s Story of Hope
May 26th, 2011
A lifetime of memories…A future full of Hope. Please join us in sharing your Congratulatory Wishes with Hope’s children on our “virtual graduation card”. . . . → Read More: A virtual graduation card for Hope’s children
May 5th, 2011
 Jeanie was a bright-eyed, sweet, baby girl. She loved the attention of her brothers and sisters.
But when she was about a year old, she started staring more and was increasingly unresponsive. Her parents sensed something was wrong, so they took her to the doctor.
They were stunned when they heard their daughter’s diagnosis: Autism and cognitive impairment.
Jeanie’s parents resolved to do the best they could. They enrolled her in early intervention speech and occupational therapies. They observed and researched everything so they’d be able to help their daughter at home.
Then, at age 3, Jeanie developed violent tantrum behaviors. . . . → Read More: Jeanie’s Story of Hope
April 4th, 2011
 Dino was a happy, healthy energetic toddler – always on the go. But his mother, Sarah, worried when his play skills weren’t developing and he wasn’t talking by age 2. She took him to a specialist, dreading the words she’d hear upon diagnosis: Autism Spectrum Disorder.
By the time he was ready for kindergarten, Dino started exhibiting increasingly disruptive behaviors. He’d get frustrated easily, throw tantrums and scream. Although he’d acquired some language skills in early intervention therapy, he was still struggling to communicate.
With the help of Dino’s teachers and doctors, Sarah tried different techniques to improve her . . . → Read More: Dino’s Story of Hope
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