Dec. 20, 2022, GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – Island Hines will have a warmer, safer commute to Grand Rapids Community College’s Fratzke Early Childhood Learn Lab through a gift from a local ministry and support from a GRCC instructor.
Island's joyful spirit and determination make her an inspiration to the ECLL team members, who describe her as a “phenomenal individual.” Island, who turns four years old next month, was recently diagnosed with Cohen's Syndrome, a genetic disorder characterized by diminished muscle tone.
Island’s mother, Abriana Winters, is a GRCC graduate and her father, Isaiah Hines, is a current student, and the family works to ensure her needs are met and hope their story can be an inspiration to others who are on the journey.
Julie Sizemore, an ECLL instructor, nominated Island to receive a quilt from Love Sews Ministry. The Holland-based non-profit’s mission is to make and provide custom quilts for those facing challenging life circumstances. The group’s volunteers have completed more than 1,000 quilts since starting in 2013.
“This child has changed my life,” said Sizemore, who started working with Island when she was eight months old.
“She has changed who I am as a care teacher. She has changed how I support families when it comes to children with special needs. She has been the reason that I have built a network of early interventionists that has allowed me to help other children get needs met when they may not normally have qualified for early intervention.”
Sizemore’s hope was to give Island a quilt for her wheelchair so she can be warm and safe when she rides the bus to school or is in the car. If she wears a coat while being transported, the belts could be too loose and this can be very dangerous if she was ever in an accident.
“The Love Sews Ministry group did an amazing job on every detail of the quilt down to the princesses who have dark skin, like Island, and including her favorite character, Peppa Pig,” Sizemore said. “Island and her family continue to inspire me, their joyful spirit, determination, and how they always work so hard to beat the odds are just a few of the ways.”