Give Trauma-Informed Care to Orphans in Macedonia

We are so excited to share with you that The JOY Home Day Center for Orphans with Special Needs is officially open!  We received our license at the end of October, and opened our doors on November 22nd.

Currently, we are providing therapies 3 mornings a week, and have 6 children that we transport from their group homes to The JOY Home.  We have two physical therapists on staff - and they are awesome - in addition to myself, our driver, and another caregiver! Our children range in age from 3 to 16 and have diagnoses such as cerebral palsy, autism, hydrocephalus, etc.  None of the children are able to communicate (yet), so we are looking for a speech therapist to join us to add some additional therapy.

We have spent the months of November and December getting to know the children, building a foundation of trust and felt safety, and assessing their strengths and needs.  We are super excited about the many opportunities we see to help guide them to a better quality of life!

One of our children is a little girl with low-functioning autism. We were able to find a brand new company in Macedonia that makes weighted vests, and blankets, and had a vest made specifically for her.  The difference has been night and day!  Also, this week, we ordered a helmet for her, and can't wait until it arrives.  We have seen glimpses of who she is underneath all of her struggles, and can't wait to get to know her even better! Her smile and giggle can light up a room!

We are super grateful for you, and your support of Lighthouse of Hope! And we can't wait until 2022, to see all of the amazing things that we can accomplish together in the lives of these awesome little superheroes!