Customer Reviews & Stories

Dan B. has grown up surrounded by love. He lives on his family’s farm with his parents and brothers and is blessed to have a very close-knit extended family. Like most guys his age, Dan enjoys sports, both watching and participating, he loves to fish and enjoys walking with the deer hunters. Dan has always been a busy young man, so, when waivered funding slots opened up in 2001, his family signed him up and chose CCRI to be their provider and, as stated by his mom Diane, “have watched Dan blossom into a wonderful human being ever since.”

“What CCRI has done for Dan is something we as parents could never do”, says Diane, “what teenager wants to be seen with their mom and dad all the time out in public teaching them, correcting them, showing them the way? CCRI has been the glue that has put the puzzle pieces of Dan’s life together!” What Dan has learned in school and at home has been put to use and practiced out in the community and the real world with Dan’s caregivers. They teach too, but they bring it all together in ways that are fun and functional for Dan. Dan has a caregiver approximately 45 hours per month. With the support of his caregiver, Dan is able to participate in many community activities while practicing both life and social skills; bowling, Y workouts, swimming lessons, dances, sporting events. Best stated my Dan’s mom, “CCRI caregivers are helping Dan become a very well-rounded young man.“

Diane states the staff and services provided by CCRI have been “exceptional and above and beyond what we had anticipated. We have a high confidence and comfort level with Dan’s caregivers knowing that his personal safety and well being are their top priority. We are very grateful for all they have done for Dan. He is the young man he is today because they met his needs and made it feel like a family effort and not just a staff effort.” It was this comfort level that prompted a very spiritual opportunity for Dan.

Every year at their church, Christ the King, mission trips are offered for children in grades 7 thru 12. Dan’s brother Adam had signed up to go on a mission trip to Puerto Rico. Diane and her husband Wayne had toyed with the idea of Dan going too, but did not want Adam to have to be responsible for Dan even though they knew he could be a great asset for Dan on the trip. They visited with their church staff and were pleased with the immediate answer of “yes, Dan can go”! For the trip to be successful, they knew that someone who knew Dan well would have to accompany him. They visited with Seth Dahle, his caregiver at CCRI, to see his interest. Seth states that he “was honored and excited to have an opportunity to go on this trip with Dan.” Diane visited with Rebecca See, Dan’s Clay County Coordinator, and Dan’s team started the process of making the trip happen! Clay County Social Services and CCRI worked together to make sure that Dan could go on this important mission with the support of a 24-hour caregiver—Seth.

It took months to prepare Dan for the trip, stated Diane, “Wayne and I, Dan’s brother Adam and Adam’s friend Travis, along with Seth, talked about and primed Dan for the trip-from the bus ride, plane ride, working with and helping others in need, to being part of a group of friends, worshipping and doing God’s work and even about going to the beach. We had to keep pumping him up with the various scenarios of the trip.” Seth made sure to get a lot of “face time” in with Dan so Dan would be comfortable with him. He also shared his excitement about the trip with Dan. As the trip got closer Dan got more and more excited for it!

Diane shared that Seth’s role on the trip was to help Dan with some of his personal needs, assist Dan in being a servant to God, help with his money and monitor him 24 hours a day but mostly be a friend and big brother to Dan. Seth would also be responsible for leading a small group of mission kids in the community. Dan was placed in a group with Adam, Travis and several others. Seth advocated that Dan volunteer with children and from there the work began.

Seth explained that the mission work consisted of “working with children and teenagers with a tougher background then what most of us had experienced. Dan did a wonderful job of interacting with the children and teens and everyone seemed to build a connection with him.” The language barrier for the group was a challenge for most, but for Dan it didn’t seem to faze him. He was amazing at making everyone laugh and smile and was a true asset to the team. Seth shared that Dan was willing to follow the group anywhere and never seemed nervous. It was his ability to be flexible that allowed the group to really relax and make a real impact with the community. Every night the entire group would gather for devotions and discuss the highs and lows of their day. Dan’s low was always that there was not enough swimming. Seth shared that “this trip was an amazing opportunity to see Dan in an environment that would make anyone nervous and it was a blessing to see how he reacted and how he made the trip better for everyone.”

The week the group was in Puerto Rico was extremely hot and humid and no air conditioning was available. Dan’s mom commented on how none of the kids complained about the conditions upon their arrival home because they had so much going on in their minds, hearts and souls.

When the bus pulled into Moorhead at midnight, Seth shared that everyone was tired and a little down that the trip had come to an end. The Youth Leader, Kurt, asked Dan if he would like to be the first one off the bus. Dan flew off the bus, ran full steam and threw his arms around his mom in a big bear hug shouting “Mom, Mom, Mom”! Diane shared that she was told by many it was a “touch-the-heart” life-loving moment for many. Seth said it was ”the biggest hug that I had ever seen, an amazing moment and the perfect end to the trip.”

“What I have seen from Dan after the trip are a stronger feeling of self worth and pride, of really becoming and being part of a group. He was accepted and treasured and loved for the wonderful person he is. I was proud of him for taking the challenge of stretching his wings and not wondering where we were, of living in conditions that were probably way out of his comfort zone, and of being of service to others whose needs were greater than his own. When I watch Dan at church it is plain to see that he is just one of the guys and in my very being I feel a difference in those who were on the trip with Dan too… a genuine ‘wow’ for Dan, and not only of acceptance, but a hey, you are really cool Dan! Dan exudes that too, he is comfortable in his own skin and he knows he belongs, he is a fountain of smiles when he is with the kids from the group.”

Parents shared with Diane about how much their children enjoyed the trip and many told her that their kids had said that Dan made the whole trip awesome. One parent shared that her daughter was planning on going into education after graduation this spring, but because of Dan she was going to go into special education. Her daughter just loved Dan, and he was, for her, “the best part of her trip.” Another parent shared that her son said that “Dan always smiled! No matter how tired he was or what we were doing he always had a smile on his face. He also loved to make us laugh and played a game with us where we would call out any animal and Dan could make the sound—even a buffalo. We all laughed and he was so proud to have made us giggle. Dan is a GREAT guy!”

After the trip, Diane and Wayne invited Seth over to their home so he could share his pictures. Diane enjoyed seeing the trip through Seth’s eyes. “It was so natural for Seth to be on the trip with Dan because Dan sees him as a friend and big brother rather that a paid staff person—perhaps this was the most important thing to celebrate.”

Dan and Seth shared their gratitude with the entire congregation at Christ the King on Mission Sunday. Seth read a few scriptures and Dan stood by his side. It was a proud moment for all and a great way to wrap up their adventure.

Dan’s experience is a good example of CCRI’s mission of enhancing and enriching the lives and learning of people with disabilities. We were thrilled to be able to provide the support that he needed to be successful on the trip.

Often a person expects that a mission trip will be the beginning of a journey that will change their life while helping others. Few people expect to make a large impact on those sharing their journey—Dan certainly did both.

Link: www.creativecare.org
Name: Jody Hudson