Special Needs Children: How the Church Can Help I-II

Lon and Brenda Solomon have a 23-year-old daughter, Jill, who began experiencing grand mal seizures when she was just a few months old, and she would have multiple seizures per day for about 8 years.  As a result, Jill requires 24/7 care.  Jill’s ongoing health crisis nearly destroyed her family and her parent’s marriage.  Although grounded in their Christian faith, the Solomons were physically, emotionally, and spiritually drained — until God intervened and sent some special friends who taught them the value of “respite care” — providing a much needed break from their caregiving responsibilities.  As a result, the Solomons encouraged their church to embrace and welcome the local special needs community.  In 2010 they opened a respite care facility called “Jill’s House” which provides day programs and overnight stays for special needs kids, thus giving the gift of respite care to their families.