Residents

Jessica moved in on June 24, 2002 to a beautiful home with loving and trained staff ready and capable of caring for her needs. Her first evening meal consisted of her favorite, Chicken Divan. She smiled and giggled all evening. Her mother helped to ease the transition by “training staff” how to care for Jessica. Jessica is non-verbal and we all needed a little time to understand how she communicated her needs. The first night she slept the whole night through which in of itself is a miracle. Jessica has a sleep disorder and most of her life she would wake through the night. Her mother spent countless nights in Jessica’s room singing and reading to her and praying for God to calm her spirit. Jessica was born with significant brain damage and diagnosed with a rare disorder called Angelman’s syndrome.

Angelman’s syndrome is a genetic condition first described by Dr. Harry Angelman in 1965.  Most children with the syndrome are diagnosed between the ages of 3 and 7, when the characteristic behaviors and features are most evident.  Some of the features are severe developmental delays evident by 6 to 12 months; speech impairment with no or minimal use of words, movement or balance disorder, behavioral uniqueness, frequent laughter/smiling, hand flapping movements, short attention span, easily excitable personality and hypermotoric behavior. Many people with the syndrome experience seizures and frequent sleep disturbance. Angelman’s syndrome is very rare with a 1 in 2,000 birth rate in the United States.

When Peter and Paulette Teague took Jessica, their 17-month old daughter, to Johns Hopkins University Hospital in Baltimore for an evaluation, they were told Jessica was severely brain damaged. They were devastated, in their grief they could not help but wonder why this had happened. Paulette shares that “we found comfort in knowing that although God’s ways are not understandable, we can always trust Him.” Paulette prayed for God to reveal his plan for Jessica’s life.

At 3 1/2 when Jessica learned to walk, life became very difficult. Paulette shares, “She was like a little tornado, ripping through the house, so hyperactive and wild, we really did not know what to do for her. Her favorite pastime was throwing things, like lamps, pictures… and then she would laugh hysterically.” Nights with Jessica were even more difficult – she would not sleep and would bang her head against the wall in frustration.  Being non-verbal Jessica could not make her wants or needs known to her mother. Paulette would sit with her sleeping briefly on and off. This went on for years. Paulette would pray for God to calm her spirit and help her to reach her full potential as one of His children.

God has provided in an incredible way with the birth of Jessica and Friends Community. Jessica now lives in a beautiful home with two of her friends, also with developmental disabilities. Loving and caring staff who believe all persons are created by God and have a divine purpose in life support all three young ladies.

God has blessed us all beyond our dreams!