Sad News

I switched organizations about 4 months ago to a place called Denver Options. I do basically the same job, but I now work within a different county. There were many, many reasons why I wanted to move on from the old place, but I wont get into that now. I am a Service Coordinator for Early Intervention, which basically means I help families who have a baby (birth to three) get therapy services for free. It's a state-wide (each state has it as well) program, so if you know of anyone who has a little one who is developmentally delayed, please refer them. It's a great program!

Denver Options also serves people who have developmental disabilities after age three. They have various programs for young people up to age 21, as well as adult services. I'll be honest, I never saw myself in this line of work. I wanted to work with teenagers and/or women, but when I got out of college with a psych degree- let's face it, not a lot of jobs. But I was able to get a job with my previous organization in Early Intervention and was there almost two years. The more I am involved in working with people with disabilities, the more I love it. I don't always like the rules, regulations, and paperwork, but I do love helping individuals and families get the help they need. 

I've really only worked with babies and families, but there are so many wonderful people working with our adult population. I will be honest again, before I started working in this field, I really had no idea about developmental disabilities and the programs and challenges. Now that I know a little about it, I'm happy that there are programs and some support for adults with developmental disabilities (but definitely not enough- sadly).  Denver Options is a very different organization from previous places I've worked. They really do care about their employees. 

A few years ago they created a position for someone who had a developmental disability. This was long before I come to Denver Options, but that person was Jack. 

I only knew Jack for about 4 months (since I started working there) and I'd say hi when I saw him. He was a very hard worker and a very sweet man. He was always at work and seemed pretty content and happy to be there. From the start I felt some sort of connection with him and I would pray that for him- that he was happy and enjoying his life. At the start of this month when I came back to work from the holidays, I read an email that said he had to go to urgent care the last week of December and was diagnosed with lung cancer. Over the past three weeks he moved into Hospice care and passed away yesterday early morning. Even though I didn't know him well, I have been very sad about his illness and death. I've been praying that he would not be in pain and that he would be surrounded by people who care for him and that he would feel love and acceptance. I also prayed that he would have people to help him with his medical decisions and talk to him about what was happening. On Sunday night, a few hours before he died, I prayed that he would get better, but that if it was his time to go, that he would be at peace with it and not be in pain. Today I was talking with my manager and she said that he didn't have any family and didn't have a great time growing up, but he had many visitors from work who were with him much of the time during his last days. 


I hope he's in a much better place, not in pain, and surrounded by love and happiness. It has made me think even more about all of those people in the world who really have no one. Sometimes I get depressed about my situation, but I am so blessed to have family and friends who do love me and would be there for me if I needed anything. I want that for everyone in the world. I don't want people to feel like they are alone. I'm not sure if Jack felt that way, but I hope he knew that people loved him and cared for him. I hope that people demonstrated their love for him. I'm trying to figure out how I can be a friend and support to people who may not have anyone, especially in real ways, rather than just feeling or thinking something. Jack will be deeply missed, but I am hoping and believing he is in a much better place. I hope he's with Jesus.