Klal Yisrael is lucky to have you girls in our generation

I

was never like you. I never “did” special needs. I’m all of 27 years old, but when I was in high school, I don’t recall anyone rushing to help out kids with special needs. Yeah, there was Center, the after-school program that a handful of girls chose as their chesed, but it wasn’t the cool thing to do. Very few girls actually signed up for it.

Enter 2025.

I have four children, baruch Hashem. My second child has severe special needs. She’s five years old, legally blind, and cannot walk, talk, or stand on her own. As many of the wonderful programs only accept children who are “high-functioning,” my daughter is left out and severely limited.

She goes to an incredible school, and we’re so blessed to have them and their staff. I’m in awe of her teachers’ constant efforts and patience. But it’s the chesed girls who reach out — outside of paid hours or school time — that bring me to tears.

You girls are in high school or post-high school, and you certainly have more exciting places to be on a Shabbos afternoon than hanging out alone with my nonverbal daughter. We live in a community without an eiruv, so you can’t even take her outside. Yet you come, Shabbos after Shabbos, just to play with her, sing to her, and bring joy to my family. You love her like she is your own. You make yourself available on the hardest days of the year — Tishah B’Av, Erev Pesach — because you know that we have no one else. You are our lifeline.

Every time I try to thank you, you shrug it off as though it isn’t a big deal. But even just an hour of playing with her or taking her out is such a load off my shoulders. For fear of embarrassing you, I won’t list you by name, but please: Know what a special place you hold in our hearts.

I speak not just to the girls in my community, but to all of you in communities all over. There have been so many times that we’ve been away at family or friends for Shabbosim or simchahs, and girls from these other places stepped up to help or come over.

To our chesed girls and to the mothers who raise you to be selfless and devoted to supporting us in the lonely experience of raising a child with special needs: May you merit eternal rewards. Thank you for lending us your daughters during these busy times, and hosting our children for random Shabbosim when we just need a break.

Klal Yisrael is lucky to have you girls in our generation. I have no doubt that you’ll be on the front lines to greet Mashiach Tzidkeinu when he comes to heal all our children.

Sincerely,
B.’s Mother

(Originally featured in Family First, Issue 950)