Healing for a child who has experienced trauma is a day-by-day process of small, loving moments made possible by the entire Casa community. For two-year-old, Ariel and the other children in House D, a new day starts not with fear, but with nurturing care and a safe routine.
Ariel and the other kids usually wake up around 7 am. Like most families, caregivers Michelle and Laci divide and conquer; Laci helps the four-year-old get ready for Pre-K while Michelle settles the little ones with toys and books before preparing breakfast.
Once Laci is back from school drop off, they start baths and other care routines. Ariel has experienced medical neglect, and her severe eczema requires multiple ointments, lotions, and Vaseline. Once everyone is ready, the children might head to play therapy, enjoy interactive learning games, or gather with the other houses at the playground – always the highlight of Ariel’s day.
When it’s lunchtime, one of the house volunteers helps and Michelle spends time feeding the infant who eats slowly and has to be encouraged. We often say the day at Casa revolves around food. Neglected children often come to Casa not knowing when they will have their next meal. In addition to three mealtimes, there are three snack times; a schedule that gives kids a sense of safety and security and helps encourage healthy eating habits.
During afternoon nap, Ariel usually struggles to fall asleep. Her body is uncomfortable, and she usually needs soft music and someone to hold her hand to fully relax. Her doctor sees her every week and assures us the eczema is improving but it’s slow going. The caregivers try to give her everything she needs to feel better – often it’s just a little extra attention.
Just like every family, the afternoon often involves errands and activities. Prelude comes once a week to offer developmental music classes and sometimes a volunteer group comes to do a play date with the kids. Caregivers take kids to doctor’s appointments or pick them up from school. By 5pm it’s time for dinner. The house starts to wind down as children get a bath or other care, and before you know it, it’s 7pm snack time before they head off to bed for stories and songs before lights out. Overnight staff come to relieve the caregivers and are there for anything the children need until the next morning.
“In all the busyness in our house, it’s the moments of connection and progress with our kids that make it all worthwhile,” says Michelle. The first time a child smiles, the withdrawn toddler who starts to sing in music class, the “failure to thrive” baby who is now at a healthy weight, the first steps, the first words. All of the care and time we put into the children comes back ten-fold.
Thanks to the devotion of Casa caregivers and the generosity of donors and volunteers, children like Ariel are not only safe, but are given the chance to heal, thrive, and simply be kids again.
