Care for Child Helps Teenage Mom Graduate

The "Class of 2002" T-shirt that Cynthia wears tells more than a story of high school graduation. It marks a commencement of hope, family and independence—traits that three years ago seemed further away than graduation day.

A Scared Child

Hardly older than a child herself, entering her freshman year of high school, Cynthia found out she was carrying a child of her own.

"I was scared…very scared," says Cynthia. "I was so young and I remember everyone telling me how hard it was to raise a child."

For Cynthia, raising this child would be even more challenging. Xavier was born with mental retardation and would need a tremendous amount of care. Special care that, at the time, Cynthia knew little to nothing about.

Special Care For Xavier

The first glimmer of hope came at the hospital, soon after Xavier was born, when a nurse told Cynthia about a United Way-funded program at Rainbows United, Inc. Right away, Cynthia placed Xavier in Rainbow United’s Full Day Services, including Therapeutic Child Care program.

"I found out that Rainbows had programs for children with special needs and I figured that would be best for him," says Cynthia.

While the program’s primary focus was on helping Xavier, it benefited Cynthia as well, helping her transition into parenting.

"Our first concern was to help Xavier develop," says Crystal Walter, volunteer/public relations coordinator at Rainbows United, Inc. "We also didn’t want Cynthia, as a young mother, to become emotionally or physically overwhelmed so we helped her receive the knowledge she needed to raise Xavier."

Through this program, Xavier receives physical, occupational and speech therapy and special one-on-one attention from a social worker. Today, Cynthia says, Xavier is doing many things that she was told he would never be able to do.

"We were told that he would always need help with even the little things," says Cynthia. "But Xavier is making significant progress…he’s feeding himself and is very close to walking."

Hope For A Young Mother

Cynthia believes that without this program, she would have most likely had to give Xavier up for adoption.

"I couldn’t have done this alone…I wouldn’t have known what to do," says Cynthia. "They’ve guided me along since he was born, making me a better mother than I would have been."

"Xavier has grown so much in so many different ways," says Walter. "And Cynthia has been able to achieve specific goals to better herself."

This June, Cynthia will be graduating from high school. She plans to begin college and is interested in some type of business degree.

"I wanted to succeed in whatever I decided to do," says Cynthia. "My goal was to make life better for Xavier and I can see that slowly happening because of this program."

Call United Way of the Plains at 267-1321 to find out more about how your money is helping our community.

United Way-Funded Programs That Care

United Way of the Plains is committed to focusing on the issues that the community cares about most.

Rainbows United, Inc.’s Full Day Services, including Therapeutic Child Care, provides nurturing interaction and specific therapy for special needs children.

Nurturing Children and Youth is one of five pressing community issues United Way-funded programs address to meet multiple needs in this community.