Children come to Casa de Esperanza with significant trauma, and many have developmental delays. With the support of our generous community, we continue to provide the love, safety, and the special care they need to heal and thrive. Children like Gentry need your help.
A Disconnected Toddler
At 2 years old, Gentry could name all the animals in a book and count to 15 out loud. But he could not tell his new caregivers that he was hungry, thirsty, or communicate any of his needs. For the first few weeks of his stay at Casa, we constantly gave him fluids, afraid he would get dehydrated. “He was in Gentry-land,” says his caregiver. “That’s what we would call it. He would walk around the house babbling or singing and would look through you.
It was like he couldn’t hear or see us, no matter what we tried to do to engage him.
He was like a puzzle that we couldn’t quite figure out.”
Gentry had no tolerance for transitions and had frequent meltdowns that went on for 30 minutes or more. He struggled with moving from the bedroom to the kitchen, going to the playground or coming inside, and getting ready for bed. We immediately put him into weekly play therapy, hoping to give him the support he needed.
“It took a while to solve the puzzle of Gentry—he had words but didn’t speak, he would eat and drink but didn’t ask for food, he wanted people around but he played alone. We never knew if he was fully aware of us…. Learning how to best meet his needs took a lot of time.”
Your Donation Changes Lives
Your generous support helps give children like Gentry individualized trauma-informed care and therapeutic support. Before I tell you more about him, I want to let you know that today, your support will be strengthened by three. This holiday season, your donation will be TRIPLED by matching funds until December 31.
Deeper Understanding
Gentry had been hard to care for since he was an infant. His single mother was overwhelmed by her son’s tantrums and, at the same time, could not accept that Gentry had different behaviors than other children. This little boy needed special attention and support to help him navigate the world. His mother fiercely loved Gentry, but struggled with addiction, unemployment, and caring for her baby. Eventually she made the difficult decision to place Gentry in foster care at Casa. And thanks to partners like you, Gentry’s story started to change to one of hope…
Solving the Puzzle
One of the keys to understanding Gentry came during weekly Prelude music class. At his first class, he immediately focused on the teachers, making eye contact and engaging with the songs. Music became an important part of life in Gentry’s foster home. His caregivers started guiding him and asking questions through music, and it worked! They often made up their own songs to help him, and he would sing back. Gentry began showing improvement every week.
After 6 months of play therapy, developmental music classes, skill building, and constant caregiver engagement, Gentry became a very different child. He was affectionate, and enjoyed hugs and giving kisses. He made eye contact and responded to his name. On his birthday, he received a small, red ukelele and carried it everywhere, strumming and singing to himself. The ukulele never left his hands.
I have such compassion for Gentry’s young mother and her sacrifice to give her son a better life. Eventually, Gentry’s mom decided to place him for adoption and Gentry left Casa to go be with his new family. He has come a long way, and we are proud of his milestones, and ours. One-on-one behavioral support is what Gentry needed to succeed and was the missing puzzle piece to opening up a bigger, happier, and more loving world for this sweet little boy.
Donors Like You Gave Gentry Everything He Needed to Succeed
Without support from donors like you, challenges that would likely be lifelong were addressed with Gentry while he was in our care. Children who have experienced abuse and neglect are unable to engage, learn, and grow developmentally because they are stuck in fear and uncertainty. Gentry’s inability to ask for food or water could have meant tragedy for him. Your generous support helps children survive and heal.
You are not just a donor—you are a hero to those who cannot speak for themselves. You are the reason Gentry and countless other children can dream of a brighter tomorrow. Our deadline to triple your donation is December 31st, and we need your support today to ensure that every child who walks through our doors finds the care, love, and hope they deserve.
