This journey wasn’t something we could undertake alone. It took the support of a community that allowed us to focus on Audrey’s needs. From family, school support, therapists, doctors, specialists, and friends to our pastor at the respite program, it truly does take a village. Their unwavering support helped shape our path, and it’s this understanding that led to the creation of Audrey’s Butterfly Effect—an initiative dedicated in honor of Audrey.

At Audrey’s Butterfly Effect, we recognize that every disability is unique, and we are committed to empowering individuals to reach their goals and maximize their potential. We believe that everyone deserves the same opportunities to lead a fulfilling life, and we strive to support our community in realizing their dreams.

Together, let’s work to help our butterflies take flight. With compassion, dedication, and the right support, we can create a world where everyone has the chance to spread their wings and soar.

Audrey's Journey

It’s been another long week and yet another hospital stay. The sleepless nights blur together as our daughter Audrey faces yet another battle with respiratory issues. For her, what might be a simple illness for most children can quickly escalate into something far more serious. This time, it’s pneumonia, compounded by a new diagnosis from the specialist.

For many children, this might be considered a common illness—a routine visit to the doctor followed by rest at home. But for Audrey, it’s different. For her, this means the constant risk of an ER visit just to make sure she can breathe. Audrey came into the world with complex medical challenges, and we’ve faced countless struggles with her health ever since. Her airway has always been one of our biggest worries, making even the simplest colds feel like a battle. When I look back at the past years, it’s clear that our entire family has been on this journey together. It isn’t just Audrey’s challenge; it’s ours too.

This life is all Audrey knows. It’s her normal. To her, the frequent doctor visits, hospital stays, and the constant watchfulness are just part of life. She was born this way, and from day one, she adapted. This is her world—a world of doctors, treatments, and medications. And even though she’s so young, Audrey accepts it with a grace I sometimes struggle to find myself. She faces each challenge as it comes, while I find myself still yearning for what could have been—a “normal” childhood for my daughter.

As Audrey slowly recovers at home, I can’t help but grieve for the moments she’s missing. While other kids are at school playing with friends, she’s often confined to treatments and medical routines instead of experiencing the carefree days I wish she could have. We fill her time with sensory activities and outings, doing our best to bring her joy, and one afternoon, her face lit up with pure delight in the ball pit.

I find myself wondering when Audrey will finally shed her cocoon and become a carefree butterfly, free from hospitals, doctors, and endless medications—a life where she can just be a child.

Then, I’m brought back to the present by the sound of Audrey’s laughter. She looks up at me with a sparkle in her eyes, gives me a big contagious smile, and taps happily to express her joy. In that moment, her presence fills the room with light, and I realize something: Audrey already is a butterfly. She has been all along, transforming in her own beautiful way, even when I couldn’t see it.

At that moment, I realized that Audrey already is a butterfly. She’s not waiting to become one—she’s been transforming all along. Her courage, her resilience, and her joy in the simple moments reveal the truth I had been too blinded by my own worries to see. Audrey isn’t missing out on life. She embraces it, just as it is. She finds joy where she can, laughs through the pain, and lives fully in each precious moment. It’s not Audrey who is missing out—it’s me. My fears and wishes for a different reality had kept me from seeing just how extraordinary her life already is.

Audrey’s life may not be what others would call “typical,” but it’s a life full of meaning, courage, and love. I realize now that it’s not about trying to make her life fit some ideal picture of “normal.” It’s about embracing the life we have and recognizing the beauty in it. Life isn’t defined by what others expect it to be, but by what we create with the circumstances we’re given. Audrey is who she is today because of all she’s been through, and while I may wish every day that things could be easier for her, I’ve learned that wishing doesn’t change reality.

As I look at my daughter now, it feels as though a veil has been lifted. I’ve come to see her transformation—from caterpillar to cocoon, and finally to a beautiful butterfly standing before me. Her strength and joy remind me to let go of my own expectations and live for the moment, just as she does. Audrey’s journey isn’t just about her becoming a butterfly—it’s about me learning to see the world through her eyes and celebrating the beauty that’s been here all along.