DePaul Annual Report 25-26

Together For True Belonging Story by Alison Wickline-Burns | Photos by Daydreamer Photography

Brenda, Lisa, and Nicki have a beautiful bond—a bond that has helped Nicki, who is deaf and blind, feel truly seen and heard for the first time in her life. “I’ve never seen her this happy, and I think it’s because of Lisa and I and the way we are caring for her now,” said Brenda, Nicki’s mom. “It’s the first time that she’s been able to be with people that could communicate 100 percent with her and all the focus has been on her.” Lisa and Nicki first met through DePaul’s former day support program in Waynesboro in 2006. There was an immediate connection

Brenda. “Also, to have somebody that genuinely cares for her … my mother heart feels so blessed. She was a job for everybody else, but I don’t believe she has ever been a job for Lisa. It’s a beauti ful relationship.” And if you ask Lisa, she echoes what Brenda said: Caring for Nicki is not a job, it’s her calling—the passion and purpose of her life. “Seeing the happiness, the laughter, the memories, the oppor tunities,” said Lisa. “I always knew I wanted to do this.” Today, Nicki’s life is full. She splits days between her mom’s

and Lisa started learning how to care for Nicki in the way that she needed. When Lisa saw that Nicki communicated through tactile signing, she learned it. She stayed in touch with Brenda as the years passed, checking in on Nicki and doing companionship care for the family. Then, when Lisa found out that Nicki’s new group home was not working out, she became a sponsored provider for her through DePaul’s Sponsored Residential Program. “I’m 73 and I really needed my daughter somewhere that was stable and communication was foremost,” said

house and Lisa’s house. She is happier and healthier. She likes to do puzzles and take walks. She is learn ing to be more independent. And she loves to go outside and feel the rain. She communicates constantly, sometimes through signing and sometimes through words … “mama” and “bye-bye” and “love Lisa.” “We both respect each other, honor each other’s lives, and we both love Nicki,” said Brenda. “We both have the same goal: to give Nicki as much as we can in this life.”

“She was a job for everybody else, but I don’t believe she has ever been a job for Lisa. It’s a beautiful relationship.”

— BRENDA

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