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by Cecelia Wilson When Jacob Sawyers was born 13 years ago, his parents had no reason to believe there was anything wrong with their full-term baby. He was delivered by C-section, became jaundiced and suffered with reflux, but those were things they were assured he would outgrow. However, on Christmas Eve, the three-month old had three seizures and the anxious parents soon realized their child needed medical attention. After years of seeking answers from endocrinologists, geneticists and neurologists, the Sawyers were left with a mystery. "On paper," his mother, Brooks, explains, "Jacob looks fine." Small for his size, non-verbal and unable to walk, doctors have not been able to determine a formal diagnosis for Jacob. As cloudy as that outlook may seem, David and Brooks have raised their son with a much sunnier disposition. David says it simply, "[Doctors] have not placed restrictions on Jacob." And since no solid conclusions have been reached as to their son's future, they are adamant that the "sky is the limit." They are also in agreement on one factor that has given Jacob that brighter opportunity: Sunshine School.  Brooks' hometown is Searcy. Her mother was in the Junior Auxiliary, which meant community service hours were spent assisting at Sunshine School during events such as hosting Halloween parties for the students at the school. Little did Brooks know that her passing familiarity with the school would one day become even more personal. In the years to come, Sunshine School would make a big impact in her own family in the most profound way. After graduating from Searcy High School, Brooks moved to Jonesboro where she attended Arkansas State University. She met and married David in Jonesboro and four sons later (besides Jacob, the Sawyers' boys include Logan - 17, Blake - 11 and Nathan - 8), David's change in jobs would cause the family to move back to Searcy. While all the boys were acclimating to their new schools, Jacob's change would prove to be the most tremendous. In Jonesboro, Jacob had attended an early intervention learning center that was designed for developmentally disabled children from birth to kindergarten. Once he left kindergarten, Jacob was placed in public schools in a self-contained classroom. Therapy was a part of his daily schedule while there, but he wasn't eating well and he was sleeping five of the six hours he was in school each day. This had become Jacob's schedule. After the move to Searcy, Jacob was enrolled at Sunshine School. On his first day at school, Brooks took Jacob in with his favorite pillow and blanket and explained to the unfamiliar staff that Jacob's regular school day had always included a very long nap time. A few days later, Brooks inquired about the pillow and blanket. Should she take it home to wash it? The Sunshine Staff had a confession to make to the Sawyers - the pillow and blanket that had seen so much use in his last school had hardly been used in Searcy. "We can't get Jacob to lie down," the teachers related with glee. Needless to say, the Sawyers were stunned. Thinking their son had napped at his previous school due to exhaustion after his therapy sessions, they now realized Jacob had simply never been challenged the way he was now being challenged at Sunshine School. "Now he eats like a horse," Brooks laughs at the extreme differences in her child's behavior these days. "He is happy at school." Despite the braces on his legs, now each morning Jacob scoots across the floor of their home to the front door and knocks on the wood, anxious to get to Sunshine School. He would prefer to go throughout the weekend as well! David's interim job in Little Rock made way for a permanent position with the City of Searcy as the Information Systems Director for the city. Brooks believes his position and their move to Searcy were nothing less than divine intervention for Jacob and for their entire family. "I believe the Lord put us here," she says with conviction. But, it is not an easy life. There are few outings for the couple since they must always keep Jacob and his care in mind. They take each day at a time. "My fear is what will happen to Jacob when I can't take care of him," Brooks says, but, as she did during the first 13 years of his life, she relies on God. "You couldn't do [this] without God. The first three or four years of Jacob's life, we were young. We just hunkered down and did it. And we never worried about having more children - we had two other sons after Jacob." That faith that life would work itself out with God's assistance has proven true over and over again. The parents describe their son not in terms of his disability, but his ability. They speak of the unique blessing that he is, the personality their red-haired boy has, his willingness to sit on your lap and play endlessly. Even his siblings have grown from the interaction with their brother. They have learned compassion and understanding by playing, living and helping with their brother, Jacob. Those will, no doubt, be lessons that will live with them throughout their lives. "God has a plan; He has a reason [for Jacob's disability]," David says assuredly. And while they continue to stretch those boundaries for Jacob's life through Sunshine School, their family's love and God's unlimited grace, they will do so knowing the entire time that the only limit Jacob has is the sky and beyond. On December 3 from 6:00 - 8:00 p.m., a host of dedicated volunteers headed by Deandra Gibson and Janet Crain have gathered their forces to raise the funds (and literally the roof) on a new building for Sunshine School. To be held in downtown Searcy, the streets will be closed off for the fun-filled, family-friendly fundraiser that will feature food, entertainment, a style show and a silent auction. The Governor and Mrs. Beebe will be stopping by and there will also be a special appearance by Santa Claus. Tickets will be available ($25 for adults; $10 for students) in November at the Sunshine School and KWCK Country 99.9 radio station as well as at the door the day of the fundraiser. For more information about the Sunshine school call (501) 268-9227 or mail donations to PO BOX 831, Searcy, AR, 72145 Go Back to Contents Go to SearcyLiving.com |
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