STACI JONES

With a little help, family could realize big dreams

By JANIS FONTAINE
Palm Beach Post Staff Writer

Behind Staci Jones’ pretty brown eyes, there’s intelligence.
Then there’s her mischievous smile, with the tiny white teeth — so perfect despite her other challenges.
At 5 years old, Staci can’t speak or walk without assistance. She isn’t toilet-trained and is just learning to feed herself.
Staci was born with agenesis of the corpus callosum, a birth defect in which the structure that connects the two hemispheres of the brain is partially or completely absent. ACC prevented her brain from developing properly, leaving Staci with compromised motor skills and mental retardation.
But since she started attending Potentials Charter School at the ARC of Palm Beach County in Riviera Beach, an organization that works to improve the lives of children and adults with developmental delays, she’s been achieving things that no one thought she would. With speech, occupational and physical therapy — and the support and dedication of the staff — doors are opening.
Every tiny milestone is a cause for celebration — and Staci is the first to grin and applaud. Staci drank from a cup today! Yay! Staci wiped the table after lunch! Yay! Staci took three unaided steps! Yay!
No one could be happier than Staci’s devoted mother, Latonya Williams, who had been searching for a place where her dreams for Staci — to walk and talk and be able to care for herself — might come true. Now, Latonya believes, there is hope.
The family, though, lives in Delray Beach, so every day, Latonya gets up at 5:45 a.m. to feed Staci before they board the bus for the Tri-Rail station. Then, mom and daughter ride Tri-Rail to the Mangonia Park station where a special van meets them to take Staci to school. In the afternoon, they repeat the process in reverse. And Tri-Rail costs about $25 each week.
Latonya, 27, has held clerical jobs and attended a vocational career college, where she was studying medical billing until Staci’s needs forced her to leave the program. Now that Staci is settled — and progressing — she wants to go back to school and get a job, but dependable transportation is holding her back. She’d like to move closer to the school, too, but she doesn’t have money for a security deposit and rent.
“I don’t like to ask for help,” Latonya says, “but I have to for my kids.” (Big sister Kiara, 10, is a good student and a great help to her mom.)
“Whatever happens, I hold my head up and stay strong.”

STACI JONES’ WISH

The family needs transportation so Latonya, Staci’s mother, can get her to school, therapy and doctor’s appointments. Transportation would also enable Latonya to get a job and to go back to college. The family would like to move closer to Staci’s school but they need rent money. Staci could benefit from devices like the Little Step by Step Communicator ($150) and CheapTalk 8 ($275). The family could use a computer with Internet access — Kiara, 10, and Latonya could use it for schoolwork and to challenge Staci to communicate. Staci, who isn’t toilet-trained, needs baby wipes and pull-ups, and Staci needs a stroller until she gets strong enough to walk. She would like a push-toy, which would help strengthen her legs. Both girls love books and music. Kiara’s big dream would be a Nintendo Wii. The whole family needs clothes and shoes.

Nominated by: The ARC of Palm Beach County, 1201 Australian Ave., Riviera Beach, FL 33404 (561) 842-3213

UPDATE

An average Friday turned into the best Christmas Day ever for 5-year-old Staci Jones, her mother, LaTonya Williams, and Staci’s big sister Kiara. Neighbors and strangers opened their hearts and wallets after reading Staci’s story in Season to Share.

Much of the good cheer came from kids Staci’s age.

Teacher Lorraine Brunner at Hagen Road Elementary in Boynton Beach was touched by Staci’s photo and wanted to help her.

“She looked like an angel,” said Brunner, who has been a teacher for 31 years. “My heart said ‘Let’s do something for her.’ The following Monday I showed the kids her picture and read them the story, and I discussed how fortunate we are. They wanted to help.” Other teachers and school personnel took part, too. “They got so excited, and the stuff just started coming in.”

Jennifer Peterson from Potentials School at the ARC of Palm Beach County, where Staci gets therapy, drove to Boynton Beach to pick up the donations and speak to the students. Clothing, including brand new outfits, slippers and pajamas, and dolls and stuffed animals were loaded into her van.

When she got back to the school, Peterson brought mom LaTonya out to see what the students sent.

“When she opened the door, I was shocked,” LaTonya said. “Me and my kids are going to get together and make them a big card to thank them.

“I’m so much less stressed out now! But I’m still kind of shocked. I never received so much from anyone.”