Proving Everyone Wrong — In the Best Way

“Better2gether has meant more to us than we can fully put into words, and we’re truly grateful to be part of this community,” shares Ashley, Jaden’s mom. 

Jaden’s story began long before most babies even enter the world. Born at just 24 weeks and weighing only 1 pound, 1 ounce, his first nine months were spent in the hospital. Those early days were filled with unknowns, frightening moments, and diagnoses no parent is ever prepared to hear. 

When Jaden finally came home, he didn’t leave the medical world behind. He came home on a ventilator, and Ashley remembers how quickly their house began to feel more like an ICU than a family home. Machines, monitors, medications, therapies — it became their new normal. 

Over the years, Jaden has worked through more than most adults will face in a lifetime: breathing support, feeding challenges, intensive therapies, and seizures. But step by step, milestone by milestone, he has continued to surprise everyone. 

Today, Jaden is off the ventilator. His trach is gone. He has been seizure-free for over a year. He is eating and drinking by mouth. And in Ashley’s words, he is “continuing to prove everyone wrong in the best way.” 

A Different Kind of “Normal” 

Life for Jaden’s family is a blend of typical childhood rhythms and constant medical awareness. There are school schedules and therapy appointments, medications and monitoring. There’s joy and progress — and a level of watchfulness that never fully switches off. 

They celebrate milestones many families might overlook. A successful therapy session. A healthy season. A new skill mastered. They’ve learned to slow down and honor progress in all its forms. 

“It can be exhausting,” Ashley shares, “but it’s also incredibly rewarding to see how far he’s come.” 

Today, life looks very different than those long hospital days. It’s still not easy. But it’s fuller, lighter, and filled with moments they once only dared to pray for. Gratitude has become part of their daily rhythm, even as they continue navigating the realities of parenting a child with complex medical needs. 

Carrying the Weight — and the Hope 

The challenges haven’t disappeared. There are still medical uncertainties, therapy needs, and the emotional weight of constantly thinking ahead — future health, independence, and making sure Jaden has everything he needs to thrive. 

The mental load can feel heavy. The fear doesn’t vanish entirely. 

But hope? Hope is much stronger than it used to be. 

Finding Community Through Better2gether 

Through Better2gether, Ashley’s family found something they didn’t even realize they were missing — connection. 

“The programs and events we’ve participated in have given us more than just resources — they’ve given us connection,” she says. “Being around other families who truly understand this life has helped us feel less isolated. It’s a different kind of support when you don’t have to explain everything — people just get it.” 

Better2gether hasn’t just provided programs. It has provided belonging. 

“Better2gether has helped us emotionally more than anything. It’s a reminder that we’re not alone, that our struggles are seen, and that our victories matter. That sense of community and understanding is priceless.” 

Because of the generosity of this community, families like Ashley’s don’t have to navigate the hardest seasons alone. And children like Jaden can keep proving what’s possible — one milestone at a time.