For the past 25 years, MiniLaps has been one of the largest fundraisers at The Little Light House annually. Families of the LLH students will raise money for their child’s year at school. This year, MiniLaps will be held September 25th, 2010 at The Little Light House. Please help our children by making a donation and help them meet their goal! Please click here to see The Little Light House Student Directory to help others meet their goals!
Josiah Melton's Minilaps Page
Welcome to Josiah Melton's Little Light House Minilaps for Little Ones Page!
Dearest Family and Friends,
January 8th, 2006 was a day where the sun would set on a life changed forever. Josiah, myâ€blessingâ€, as we called him, was born.
Less than 4 lbs, no baby fat, no eyelashes, underdeveloped eyes, a cleft palate the size of a quarter, recessed chin, his forearm just slightly bigger than my finger, barely breathing. That was just upon first observation. My family brought me the news hours later when I woke up from surgery. I still remember clutching the little, blue, plush elephant I’d bought for Josiah as they told me, and I wept, not for me, but for him.
Josiah spent his first six weeks of life in the NICU, where I spoke with several physicians and specialists. They all told me the same thing…â€We’ll just have to wait and see, but you should prepare yourself for a difficult journey.†They told me to expect problems in the areas of sight, hearing, sensory issues, the ability to grow and gain weight normally, low immunity, muscle strength and coordination, speech and eating; developmental delay in just about every area. At one month I made the decision to have a g-tube placed, the first of many surgeries. Along our journey we’ve learned that he has neurological issues resulting in a delay between command and response but is extremely cognitive. Abnormal chromosome tests answered some questions but left others.
I knew that being a single mom would be rough at times, but being that of a special needs child would redefine “challengingâ€. Despite his disabilities Josiah is a phenomenal child. This last year He has really come ALIVE, showing us what motivates him and what he is capable of developmentally, and I KNOW it’s because of The Little Light House.
Today, I write with a simple request. Please support Josiah’s “lap†for Mini Laps with a financial gift.
Mini Laps is an annual fundraiser for The Little Light House. The kids dress up and take a lap around the track to SHOW OFF their accomplished MILESTONES. It’s the highlight of the school year! On September 25th, Josiah will take to the track, give us that adorable smile and wave his little arms the way he does, melting hearts with enthusiasm. We invite you to come!
The Little Light House is a Christian Developmental Center for children with special needs. They provide Josiah’s education tuition-free. They do not receive government funding or United Way support. The Little Light House is 100% supported through the generous financial gifts from caring individuals like you. Set apart from government regulations The Little Light House has freedom to implement unique therapies and services that these children otherwise would miss out on.
The average annual expense for any child attending The Little Light House is $17,000. Will you help us give back? Our goal this year is $5000.
I know many deserving charities ask for your support, but this year, will you join us in supporting a Christian school specially designed for extraordinary kids? Kids who didn’t ask to be extraordinary. Kids who need a little more attention and encouragement – a little more help to reach their very best potential…kids who will succeed thanks to The Little Light House.
With gratitude and love,
Olivia and Josiah
There are several easy ways to support Josiah’s lap. 1. You can send a check to the address above made out to The Little Light House and put Josiah’s name on the check. 2. If you prefer to make your gift online, visit www.littlelighthouse.org, click on donation, then Mini Laps. Be sure to reference you are sponsoring Josiah Melton. 3. We also have a bank draft system in place. So if you’d like to pledge a certain amount each month toward a total, we can help you with that.
Check out the website or email me at liv_melton@yahoo.com with any questions.
January 8th, 2006 was a day where the sun would set on a life changed forever. Josiah, myâ€blessingâ€, as we called him, was born.
Less than 4 lbs, no baby fat, no eyelashes, underdeveloped eyes, a cleft palate the size of a quarter, recessed chin, his forearm just slightly bigger than my finger, barely breathing. That was just upon first observation. My family brought me the news hours later when I woke up from surgery. I still remember clutching the little, blue, plush elephant I’d bought for Josiah as they told me, and I wept, not for me, but for him.
Josiah spent his first six weeks of life in the NICU, where I spoke with several physicians and specialists. They all told me the same thing…â€We’ll just have to wait and see, but you should prepare yourself for a difficult journey.†They told me to expect problems in the areas of sight, hearing, sensory issues, the ability to grow and gain weight normally, low immunity, muscle strength and coordination, speech and eating; developmental delay in just about every area. At one month I made the decision to have a g-tube placed, the first of many surgeries. Along our journey we’ve learned that he has neurological issues resulting in a delay between command and response but is extremely cognitive. Abnormal chromosome tests answered some questions but left others.
I knew that being a single mom would be rough at times, but being that of a special needs child would redefine “challengingâ€. Despite his disabilities Josiah is a phenomenal child. This last year He has really come ALIVE, showing us what motivates him and what he is capable of developmentally, and I KNOW it’s because of The Little Light House.
Today, I write with a simple request. Please support Josiah’s “lap†for Mini Laps with a financial gift.
Mini Laps is an annual fundraiser for The Little Light House. The kids dress up and take a lap around the track to SHOW OFF their accomplished MILESTONES. It’s the highlight of the school year! On September 25th, Josiah will take to the track, give us that adorable smile and wave his little arms the way he does, melting hearts with enthusiasm. We invite you to come!
The Little Light House is a Christian Developmental Center for children with special needs. They provide Josiah’s education tuition-free. They do not receive government funding or United Way support. The Little Light House is 100% supported through the generous financial gifts from caring individuals like you. Set apart from government regulations The Little Light House has freedom to implement unique therapies and services that these children otherwise would miss out on.
The average annual expense for any child attending The Little Light House is $17,000. Will you help us give back? Our goal this year is $5000.
I know many deserving charities ask for your support, but this year, will you join us in supporting a Christian school specially designed for extraordinary kids? Kids who didn’t ask to be extraordinary. Kids who need a little more attention and encouragement – a little more help to reach their very best potential…kids who will succeed thanks to The Little Light House.
With gratitude and love,
Olivia and Josiah
There are several easy ways to support Josiah’s lap. 1. You can send a check to the address above made out to The Little Light House and put Josiah’s name on the check. 2. If you prefer to make your gift online, visit www.littlelighthouse.org, click on donation, then Mini Laps. Be sure to reference you are sponsoring Josiah Melton. 3. We also have a bank draft system in place. So if you’d like to pledge a certain amount each month toward a total, we can help you with that.
Check out the website or email me at liv_melton@yahoo.com with any questions.