Family of a different kind

"Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. And whoever welcomes a little child like this in my name welcomes me."

- Matthew 18:4-5

Sometimes a family is more than just a blood relationship. For the families belonging to the "In His Image" ministry support group, a family is a group of former strangers who have brought themselves together through the common bond of love and support for one another.

"In His Image" sponsored by The Grace Place Church, was formed in September as an avenue for parents of children with special needs to provide fellowship, information and support to its members.

After seeing a need, Sarah Sasser started the group with the help of fellow Grace Place member Jacklyn Gant.

"We need to be supportive of each other," Sasser said.

"It's like an instant family almost. You have an instant connection that's so strong that you share. We've been calling ourselves a family because that's what it feels like," Gant said during the group's recent Christmas party. "You immediately start sharing things that you wouldn't share with people normally."

Gant said she has volunteered with similar groups before moving to Enterprise and is a former Georgia regional representative for the Rett Syndrome Foundation, a neurological disorder that her daughter Amber was born with and profoundly impairs her speech and motor skills.

"I knew we needed a support group. I knew we needed, as parents and especially as moms, (a group)," said Sasser, whose son has a non-verbal form of autism. "People just assume that we've got it under control, and a lot of us do not ask for help ... and it can get overwhelming."

Having the support of people "in the same boat," and simply knowing other people share the same struggles can be a huge help for parents, she said.

Almost four months after starting the group, Sasser and Gant say they are thrilled with the response it has gotten from the local community.

"We're ecstatic that it has gotten to the point where people have heard of us, and are wondering what we are,"Sasser said.

She initially thought the group would be a group of five or six women talking over coffee, but it has since turned into an important avenue for parents and their children to fellowship and learn from one another.

The general curiosity from the community, she said, shows the need for this kind of group.

Growing awareness throughout the community is also a very important mission of the "In His Image" group, Sasser said.

"This group is important because in this area there is a great need for pediatric care ranging from critical care to support and services for families," said member Colleen Redmond, adding the group is a great beginning for community awareness for those needs. Redmond's 3 year-old son Mitch was born premature, and as a complication has cerebral palsy and other medical complications like hydrocephalus. Since his birth, Mitch has endured five brain surgeries. "It's comforting to know other families are experiencing similar experiences and you're not the only one going through it."

"Any way that you can bring awareness ... to a child that doesn't normally have the ability to be included in things is extremely important," Gant said.

"If people knew about Rett Syndrome, they wouldn't stare," she said. "If I'm in the store and my child is having a meltdown and my other one is fine...instead of telling me how to discipline my child, they might offer to help or they might just not say anything and whisper a prayer or something."

Members of "In His Image" want people to know it is OK to ask questions. In fact, they prefer it.

Small children are often curious when they see her daughter in her wheelchair, Gant said, and want to ask questions.

"The parents will ‘shoo' their child away, and they're afraid to let their child ask questions," she said. "We want to make sure that everybody knows that there is absolutely nothing wrong with asking a parent questions about their child."

So far, the group has about seven families who regularly attend meetings, which are on the third Thursday of each month at 5:30 p.m., and has about 30 members who communicate regularly through Facebook messages.

Beth Messer, of Enterprise, whose 28-month-old daughter, Chloe, was born with Trisomy 18, said God brought her and Gant together at Walmart one afternoon and learned about "In His Image."

"Ever since that day we've been friends," Messer said. "It's good to have friends you know have special needs children so you kind of understand what each other is going through on a daily basis."

Gant said the group does so much more than getting the parents and kids out, but is also a great way for parents to share information and resources that only a parent can give.

"The parents here are all full of information - more than the doctors are," Gant said. "I mean we're in it and we're doing it every single day."

Meetings have also provided information on a number of programs that benefit parents and children such as the Yellow Dot Program, Project Lifesaver, Full Life Ahead and guest speakers.

For more information about the group or to join, contact Gant at 379-2418 or email Sasser at [email protected].

The Grace Place Church is located at 5730 Shell Field Road in Enterprise.