Thankful Thursday HAPPY THANKSGIVING! |
Gratitude Beyond the Short Bus for Nancy Jennings |
Gratitude Beyond the Short Bus
By Sheryl Wilde Author’s Note: As I thought about Mountain Shadows resident, Nancy, and her story below, I recalled a video about a young boy with Down syndrome. It was his first day of school, and he was so excited about riding the bus! His loving parents were there to see him off and take video commemorating this milestone life event. I doubt the boy knew he was about to ride on what has become known as the Short Bus.
As I watched the video on YouTube, the bus driver smiled and joked with the boy as he helped him into his seat and buckled him up. The boy was all smiles and laughter and hi-fives at this grand new adventure.
The boy was alone on the bus, and his innocent, smiling face was framed in the bus window as the bus pulled away and headed toward school. The video ended there. I don’t know what happened when the boy arrived at school.
But Mountain Shadows resident, Nancy, and her family, they remember the Short Bus. They remember what it came to represent in the eyes of many. And they remember the sometimes unkind things others said and did to its special riders at school. And yet, you will see that over the years, the Jennings family has found Gratitude Beyond the Short Bus – and learning beyond schoolbooks – and perhaps these were some of the most important life lessons of all. |
Nancy Jennings, Mountain Shadows resident. |
In Debra Jennings’ words, her daughter, Nancy, is “severely handicapped, non-verbal, and requires help with all of the activities of daily living.
“We don’t really know what happened with Nancy. She could not tolerate lying down during the first two years of her life. She slept with her head on my shoulder, while I sat on a rocking chair, until she was strong enough to sit in a chair on her own.
“If I put her in her bed, it was as if I had dropped her into boiling water. She would scream as if she was being killed.
“I worked nights so I could always be there with Nancy during the day. My husband worked the dayshift so he could be with her in the evening.” |
“Life with Nancy was challenging,” says Debra. “We tried many ways to make it easier for her to communicate with us. She said, ‘Mom!’ only one time in her life. She had pulled a dresser over. She wasn’t hurt, just stuck, but that’s the only time she ever said mom. “And, at times, it was hard for my other children. There were some fights in grade school. Some people made fun. They yelled things like, ‘Your sister rides the Short Bus!” and ‘Your sister goes to the special school.’ “But I think, in the end, it made my children stronger. They are more patient with everybody now. They are very responsible. And they were never the ones yelling, ‘Oh look! There’s the Short Bus!’ |
“Nancy became unhappy at home after her brother and sister went off to college,” continues Debra. “I think she kind of thought my husband and I were boring.
When the time came to find a placement for Nancy, Debra learned Mountain Shadows had a spot available. “We jumped on it,” she says. “I was the Director of Nursing at Children’s Convalescent Hospital, so I was aware of facilities in the area. I wanted someplace Nancy could be for life. Changes in her routine are very hard for her. Mountain Shadows had a really good reputation. “Nancy moved into Cedar house when she was 18 years old. When she moved to Mountain Shadows, Nancy seemed to be fine with it. But, for me and my husband, it was tough. It was the only time I’ve ever seen my husband cry. “We stayed away from Nancy for a while, three or four weeks, to allow her to get into a new routine. Afterward, when we went to see her, she was doing more things for herself than she’d ever done at home, and she seemed much happier. “It was great for Nancy, but it was devastating for my husband and me. We thought, ‘We can never take her home again! Mountain Shadows is better for her. And that was hard. We had a hard time letting go.” |
Adds Debra, “Nancy has been much happier at Mountain Shadows. She likes having more people around and more activity. She’s 47 now, so she’s been living at Cedar house for a long time.
“At Mountain Shadows, Nancy is much more independent. They have been so good to her. They have been so good to me.
“Her roommate is verbal, and she keeps an eye on Nancy. She’s very protective. The roommate has cerebral palsy, so she is physically handicapped, but she watches over Nancy. And she’ll tell staff, ‘Nancy needs help!’ if Nancy tries to get out of bed on her own. “Nancy now gets upset when she comes home to us. She’s happy to visit for a day, but then she’s ready to go home and sleep in her own bed at Mountain Shadows.
“I love Mountain Shadows – and Nancy loves it too. There are some very good people there.” |
While many things have changed for the better for special needs individuals in the decades that have passed since Nancy road the Short Bus, there is still much change that is needed.
At Mountain Shadows, our Transportation Program, and our fleet of custom-designed buses – which give new meaning to the term short bus – open the world for our residents. Residents, like Nancy, go on outings to Disneyland, SeaWorld, Camp Able, and more. They are transported to medical and dental appointments. And they travel together, to school, to shopping centers, to restaurants – to places far and wide within the community.
And, more and more often, they are greeted upon arrival, not with derision, or name-calling, but with kindness, and smiles, and respect. We alone cannot change the world for everyone, But we can change the world of everyone We come into contact with today. ~unknown On this Thankful Thursday, as images and memories may be stirring in your mind, and heart, of the special riders of the Short Bus – riders like Nancy, and riders like the young boy, alone, and looking out the window of the Short Bus on his first day of school – we are so grateful for YOU and your support. We can’t do it alone, but with your help, and your continuing generosity, we can continue to make huge strides of positive change in the worlds of each of our residents, today and every day – as we find Gratitude Beyond the Short Bus. To Help Our Residents Thrive Beyond the Short Bus Click Here |
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MSSG Custom-Designed Buses – Expanding the World for Our Residents |
From Our Mountain Shadows Family to Yours Happy Thanksgiving! “Do Not Follow Where the Path May Lead.
Go Instead Where There Is No Path and Leave a Trail.” ~Ralph Waldo Emerson |
The Mountain Shadows Foundation – Because We CARE |
Thanks to YOUR SUPPORT, the Mountain Shadows CARE program provides recreational and social experiences to residents and participants adding meaning and richness to their lives.
It’s easy for you to help us continue to provide activities like this – activities that improve the quality of our residents’ lives in fulfillment of their dreams. Here are some ways you can help ensure these crucial activities can continue for years to come: -
Make a one-time donation today by clicking on the donate button below.
- Make a monthly or annual contribution.
- Leave a Legacy Gift.
To learn more about the Mountain Shadows Foundation Legacy Society, to include us in your estate plan, or to let us know if you have already designated Mountain Shadows to receive a legacy gift, please contact Mandy Huiras, Director of Development at: [email protected], or visit our website by clicking here:
Learn More About the Mountain Shadows Foundation Legacy Society Please share this story with your family, friends and co-workers to help grow our Mountain Shadows Family!
To learn more about Mountain Shadows volunteer opportunities, please click below:
Learn about Mountain Shadows Volunteer Opportunities Here |
Mandy Huiras Mountain Shadows Foundation
Director of Development
Contact Mandy today to learn more about the Mountain Shadows Foundation and how you can continue to make a difference in the lives of our residents:
mhuiras@mtnshadows.org |
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