An Alumni’s Journey
L U C Y ’ S L I G H T
Seven years ago parents Jon and Katie Vandrell sat in the doctor’s office
getting an ultrasound of what they believed to be their second perfectly
healthy baby girl. At the end of the appointment, they left with a weight
far heavier than a set of photos to display on the fridge: there was
possible swelling in Lucy’s brain.
Several appointments and sleepless nights later, Jon and Katie learned
that Lucy had Spina Bifida. They were told this would have a significant
impact on her independence and she may never walk.
Soon after the diagnosis, Jon and Katie headed to Vanderbilt Children’s
Hospital in Nashville, TN for a trial surgery developed for children with
Spina Bifida. Within the womb, at just 25 weeks old, Lucy underwent her
first procedure. “Jon and I went from thinking the worst to having hope,”
says Katie. And that hope grew when a family friend told Jon about a
developmental center in Tulsa that would help Lucy even more.
Lucy was put on the Little Light House waiting list before she was born,
and at two years old, with a raspberry-colored walker in tow, Lucy began
her first day of school. “If I close my eyes, I can still hear the clicking
sound those walker wheels made,” says Katie. When she began classes,
Lucy lacked balance, strength, and stamina, however by her second
year, Lucy put aside that rasberry-colored walker and began to walk
independently.
For the Vandrell’s, the Little Light House was so much more than a
school. “The strong relationships we formed with staff, volunteers, and
other Little Light House families strengthened our faith in God and the
purpose He has for us,” says Katie. “To see your child struggle amongst
their peers is extremely painful. To constantly be reminded of her
disability and what she can’t do weighs very heavily on a parents mind.
The Little Light House took all of those thoughts away.”
Today, Lucy is independent, accepting of her challenges, and equipped
with the tools to figure out how to overcome any obstacle. Because of
the Little Light House, she has been able to tap into many strengths and
qualities that will support her the rest of her life. Lucy is a genuine friend
with huge leadership skills and a desire to include everyone around her.
She has the biggest heart and doesn’t see differences. In the words of
her mom, “The Little Light House wrote Lucy a new story!”
JOURNEY | 9