A Night They’ll Never Forget: Grace’s Story

Every story reminds us why we do what we do, but some moments stay with you forever. This is one of them.

Grace is a fighter.

At just 3 years old, Grace suffered a traumatic accident that changed her life and her family’s forever. Today, she is medically complex, vent-dependent, and requires constant care. She is also deeply loved as the youngest of eight children in a hardworking, single-income household.

Grace’s mom carries an incredible weight. She is the sole provider for her family and, when nursing care isn’t available, she is also Grace’s full-time caregiver. Every day is a balancing act between work, caregiving, and navigating the challenges that come with raising a medically fragile child.

One of the biggest challenges they’ve faced? Simply getting from place to place safely.

Their family vehicle never truly equipped to meet Grace’s needs has broken down time and time again, often in frightening and dangerous situations. On one occasion, they were forced to walk along the side of a highway with Grace and her life-sustaining equipment, racing against time to find power for her ventilator before the battery gave out. Even with emergency services notified of her condition, help couldn’t arrive quickly enough.

More recently, during a nor’easter, their car failed again while they were trying to get Grace to the hospital. In cold rain and brutal conditions, she had to be transferred on the side of the road into another vehicle, her health and safety hanging in the balance. With poor circulation, staying warm is critical. Situations like this are more than stressful, they are dangerous.

Despite temporary fixes, the car continued to fail. And the reality is heartbreaking: the type of vehicle required to safely transport Grace and her medical equipment was simply out of reach financially.

But Grace’s story doesn’t stop there.

At our 13th Annual Wine Tasting Fundraiser, surrounded by supporters, donors, and families, we had the honor of changing that for Grace and her family.

With her parents in attendance, alongside Grace’s dedicated home care nurses, we shared the news:

Grace’s family was awarded a handicap accessible van.

There were tears, disbelief, and overwhelming gratitude. What was once a constant source of stress and fear is now a path toward safety, reliability, and peace of mind.

This van means:

●      Safe, reliable transportation to and from medical appointments

●      The ability to travel without fear of breakdowns or emergencies

●      A renewed sense of stability for an entire family

Most importantly, it means that parents who have given everything for their child can breathe a little easier.

This is what your support makes possible.

Because of our incredible community, families like Grace’s are no longer facing these challenges alone.

We revealed our 2025 recipients at our 13th Annual Wine Tasting Fundraiser, and Grace’s story is just one of many that your generosity has made possible.

Follow along as we continue to share these powerful stories and show how your support is making a difference every single day.