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Client Stories
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Vinci is very grateful for her beautiful, healthy
one-year-old baby Dominic - and one-year-old Adraina, and
one-year-old Gabriel, and one-year-old Angelo. As mother of
quadruplets, wife to husband Jason and a full-time worker, Vinci
has much gratitude but little free time.
It's hard to escape the feeling of being blessed when you are
surrounded by four beautiful healthy babies toddling, playing,
sipping and crawling all around you in a small blocked-off
living room. The blessings don't end with the children. Vinci
(Vin - see) and her family receive routine help from a variety
of individuals with a hand - or two - to lend.
Family friends, church friends, even a woman who had recently
moved into Vinci's Mother's condos who had heard about the young
foursome's arrival answered the call. Altogether about five kind
retirees regularly show up to help with feeding, washing,
entertaining or the multitude of other tasks in the four
infants' daily schedules.
With four small hungry mouths, something as simple as meal time
becomes a major undertaking. Lined up in four high chairs, each
toddler is given some cheerios to munch as dinner is prepared.
The four patient, adorable children eat ground up meat,
vegetables and pasta fed to them by Vinci and one of her loyal
team of volunteers. Sharon, an almost daily volunteer who has
moved up to God-mother status, pitches in helping Vinci feed and
entertain the babies.
Vinci also counts the assistance of Julie among her many
blessings. Vinci first met Julie just after the quads were
released from the hospital. They were about two months old.
Julie was sent as part of the Help Me Grow program administered
by Jewish Family Services. Help Me Grow is an Ohio program that
provides health and developmental services for expectant
parents, newborns, infants and toddlers. Julie was there to help
assess the new babies developmental progress. Coincidentally,
Julie is mother to two-and-a half year-old triplets. Although
Vinci's babies were born prematurely, as in many multiple
births, they progressed very well. Within two months it was
determined that the youngsters were well on their way as healthy
normal babies. At this point Vinci could have thanked Julie and
JFS for their services and parted ways. However she was given
the option to continue contact and check-ins from Julie to
assure the babies' continued healthy development.
"Having multiples is challenging financially, emotionally,
physically and mentally. But we get four times the joy - we love
it" says Vinci. The support of JFS and Julie has been great.
Vinci feels welcome to contact Julie whenever she needs to. The
assessments of her children's progress are documented according
to the program. Typical infant developmental milestones such as
rolling over, sitting up and attention skills are monitored.
This gives Vinci and Jason a very accurate picture of how well
each of their children is developing. It was especially
important in the babies' first year. Vinci said it was very
helpful because "we knew what we had to work on and what we had
to do to achieve it."
Vinci and Julie continue to meet once a month, and keep in touch
via e-mail between visits. Vinci enjoys the conversation and
support - Julie has walked in her shoes and knows what it's like
to juggle so many competing demands for time and attention.
Because Julie's babies are a bit older she is in a good position
to advise Vinci on matters such as what toys can entertain and
educate the children and how to cope with the constant heavy
demands on her time and energy. She also introduced Vinci to a
local support group for mothers of multiples called Triplets and
More. Vinci thinks Julie is a wonderful person who feels more
like a friend to her. "I can't even find the words to say how
helpful JFS has been. Just knowing Julie's there is very
comforting."
Interview and story by Suzanne |
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| Wednesday, September 08, 2010 |
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