ETB 55: Prepare to be deeply moved by the remarkable journey of Josephine Sullivan, founder and CEO of the Christina Sullivan Foundation. This episode offers a powerful narrative of love, faith, and unwavering commitment as Josephine shares the story of her daughter Christina, a vibrant soul who was born with severe brain injury, cerebral palsy, and a seizure disorder. Listen as she chronicles how her unconditional love for Christina spurred the creation of a foundation that has since then sparked hope and positivity to over 247 athletes of varying abilities.
As we steer the conversation towards inclusive sports for children and adults with differing abilities, we uncover the deep ties Josephine formed with medical professionals. These resulting collaborations have been instrumental in the growth of the Christina Sullivan Foundation's comprehensive adaptive and inclusive activities and sports programs. The Christina Sullivan Foundation is not just about sports, it's about creating a nurturing and inclusive environment. From adaptive tennis, bowling and bocce ball to choirs and eSports, the foundation aims to offer a wide range of activities that cater to every individual's unique talents and interests. And, there’s more to come with the upcoming music and art camp pilot program and a chess club.
As we gear up for the upcoming event at Moody Gardens, a collaboration with the Christina Sullivan Foundation, we discuss the exciting array of activities and the celebration of hope and inclusion it promises. This free event is a testament to the foundation's dedication to fostering a sense of belonging and inclusion for people of all abilities and their families. We wrap up our conversation by focusing on adaptive exercises for children with intellectual and physical disabilities, discussing the importance of community support for such initiatives, and uncovering Josephine's latest creative venture – a café at the foundation. Tune in for a heartening discussion and learn how you can contribute to this noble cause.
Connect with the Christina Sullivan Foundation:
The Christina Sullivan Foundation is dedicated to helping medically dependent children and adults with intellectual and physical challenges and their families. Our intake specialists can help guide your search for necessary resources involving medical, educational, legal, and social networks to assist in caring for your loved one’s health, safety, and well-being. Contact us and let us know how we can help!
https://www.christinasullivanfoundation.org/
http://info@christinasullivanfoundation.org
GriefShare
https://www.griefshare.org/
Connect with Sandy:
IG: https://www.instagram.com/sandydeppisch
Embrace the Blessing Facebook Group: http://bit.ly/ETB4ME
Website: http://www.embracetheblessing.com/
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Sandy (00:05):
Hey there, I'm Sandy Deppish, and this is the Embrace
the Blessing podcast.
Each week, I talk with a parentwho has a child with a
disability.
They share their biggestchallenge, their greatest joy
and their hopes and dreams forthe future.
You'll learn about resourcesavailable to you and discover
helpful hints and tips If youwant to be inspired and
(00:27):
encouraged, stick around.
Let's walk the road lesstraveled together.
It is such a joy to have mynext guest on the show.
This woman and her husband,their entire family, are just
some of the most incrediblepeople you'll ever want to meet,
(00:49):
and it truly is my blessing tohave you here today.
So what I would love for you todo is to introduce yourself and
tell us all a little bit aboutyou.
Josephine (00:57):
Okay, thank you for having me.
This is a true blessing to behere with you.
My name is Josephine Sullivan.
I am the founder, one of thefounders and the CEO of the
Christina Sullivan Foundation.
Christina was our daughter,still is, but she's up in heaven
, and we did this foundation inher memory.
(01:20):
I'd like to say we were soguided by our heavenly father
and Christina for thisincredible journey that we're on
right now.
Sandy (01:28):
Yeah, Christina.
Tell us about Christina.
Josephine (01:33):
Oh Christina.
She was severely brain injured,cerebral palsy, g tube fed
seizure disorder.
Oh my gosh, there's so muchmore to Nina nonverbal, of
course, wheelchair bound, butthat smile in the morning, it
just woke you up.
It just gave you that sense ofknowing what unconditional love
(01:59):
is and she really helped usunderstand what life was really
all about and that's caring forone another.
And she was just a teacher hereon earth.
She went to heaven at the ageof almost 33.
Sandy (02:16):
So did you know prior to her birth that she was going to
have disabilities?
Josephine (02:21):
No, no, in fact, it was a normal pregnancy.
I've never questioned it,though, sandy.
It was just even after hearing,overhearing the nurses say she
wasn't going to live through thenight.
(02:42):
And that's when I started topray Wow, at the age of 23, to
please leave her, blessed mother, please leave her, and I will
profess my faith in everythingthat I do, and someday I'll
bring her to our lady of lordsin France and submerge her in
(03:04):
the holy waters.
And I got to do that, that'samazing.
Sandy (03:11):
Wow, you were 23.
Did you have another child atthat point?
Or she was your oldest?
Josephine (03:20):
She was my oldest.
We were blessed with our son,christian, 10 years later, and
that was a gift that ourheavenly father had given to
Craig and I, just for loving meso much.
Sandy (03:40):
That's so amazing, so you've already kind of alluded
to it.
But what inspired you to startyour foundation?
Josephine (03:49):
Oh, this is.
This is an amazing journey.
My neighbor saw me hopelesslyin grief six months after Nina
had gone to heaven and she said,josephine, you really need to
go to grief share.
That's a 13 week program atMoody Methodist Moody Methodist
(04:11):
Church.
So I went and I'm not one forgroups where I wasn't, but I
understand now.
And when I went there and we'reall around the table and one
lady was crying for her mothershe had just lost and of course
you tell about the loved onethat has gone to heaven and
(04:32):
afterwards she came up to me andshe said no-transcript, my
granddaughter sounds a lot likeyour daughter and we're about to
lose SSI.
Well, we were both crying and Itook that lady and I pushed her
back by her shoulders and saidI can help you with that.
So that was my aha moment, theone father, jude, at Christina's
(04:55):
celebration of life that myfamily owes their heart to.
He just said Josephine, ifyou'll listen, our heavenly
father will tell you what yournext journey will be.
And that's where it started.
And from then on it was just asif things just kept happening
like they were supposed to.
(05:16):
Just, you know the foundationitself.
My son took a gap year becausehe had fallen apart.
He was everything to Nina andhe came home to be with us and
we were given away one of herwheelchairs and putting it in
the car.
And then, all of a sudden, thelady that had helped us for
(05:38):
years, she goes, sissy, look upand when there wasn't a cloud in
the sky, and then all of asudden there's this beautiful
arrangement of clouds that isactually the symbol of
Christina's foundation today andthat was giving away one of her
wheelchairs.
And then Christian had somephotographs in an art walk in
(06:01):
Galveston and a gentleman cameup to us that was there with a
friend and I didn't know him andI'm showing him the cloud in
the sky and what we'd love to beable to do to help people and
he goes.
Well, I can do that for you.
I'm an attorney, we can do thatpro bono and create a 501C3 for
(06:23):
you.
So I'm in the middle of thisart gallery, crying, knowing
that it's Nina again and thepapers were drawn and we go in
and, lo and behold, there's aCPA there that said oh, you know
, my husband loves what you doand would like to talk to y'all.
(06:43):
Happened to be Dr Brent Maisel,who was 30 years, ceo of the
Transitional Learning Center.
So for brain injury, come on,sandy.
So we go and talk to him and westarted doing live care plans
for people who had come toGalveston to seek that
(07:05):
rehabilitation and then, whenthey would go off, we had
multiple computers that were agift from a family that we would
actually do research on andfind all the things that any
family would need wherever theywere in the country.
And that's how that started.
But yeah, just the journey justkept going, on and on and on.
(07:25):
And here we are today Over 247athletes just this fall and
those are children withdifferent abilities, children,
youth and adults and it's beenan incredible journey with
challenges.
Of course, if you don't havethe challenges, you cannot
(07:46):
appreciate and love yourblessings that are given Right.
Sandy (07:50):
But we're here today and we're moving right along and
you're doing incredible work.
I wanted to back up just a bit.
Tell everybody who is notfamiliar, who may not be
familiar with your foundationabout the cloud, what it looked
like.
Josephine (08:06):
The cloud was absolutely incredible.
It had like two wings and justthe facial feature itself.
My son took it and he createdon his tablet the most
simplistic, beautiful image ofthe cloud formation that looked
(08:32):
like an angel and wasn't anangel.
It was Nina and it wasincredible to see it.
And people calling in andfriends of mine and saying, did
you see that?
Did you see that?
And people took pictures of itand were sending it to me.
But he did.
He's the one, through his love,created that image.
(08:52):
And then I could go on the, Ithink the six months that were
so hard for us as a family.
And still today grief doesn'tgo away.
It's there and that's justbecause you love your loved one
so much.
But he took experiences.
(09:15):
We had at least six of them.
Christina went everywhere.
We took her everywhere, itdidn't matter Grocery store,
football games, movies, I mean,she was a go girl, she loved to
go, yeah.
So we got Christian out of hisroom because he was to graduate
that December from college andsaid come on, your sister
doesn't want this, let's just goto your football game.
So we went and it would bewhere Christina would be in the
(09:39):
handicap section, on the end, inthe end zones, and here comes
this yellow butterfly, solidyellow, with black rim around it
, and it lands on the railingwhere Nina's chair would have
been sitting in front of.
And then, yeah, and then wethought, okay, that's so
beautiful, and you know, we bothall look, we all looked at each
(10:01):
other and we thought that wasjust something very pretty.
But two weeks later, when we goback for the second football
game to get Christian out, itcame again.
And then we knew, and then weall started crying and that was
her way of telling us that.
You know she was, she was okay.
And even though you know ourhearts were just broken.
(10:24):
It's hard not to hold yourloved one, but she, you know,
she appeared a couple of moretimes when it was just really
hard.
And that's how I knew I wasrunning on the seawall and I was
(10:47):
trying to anyway.
But I hadn't been sleeping andChristian and Craig were in
front of me and I just textedhim and said I just can't do it,
you know, I'm just gonna goback to the car.
And so I went and sat down infront of the car and I'm at the
end of the seawall and I'myelling at our Heavenly Father
saying just take me right now.
(11:09):
I have to see her, I have tosee her.
And about that time, after Iwas having that conversation
with our Heavenly Father, herecomes my son running towards me
mom, are you okay?
And then he picks me up andabout that time, on the side of
the car comes the yellowbutterfly with the black rim
(11:31):
around it.
So I knew then that I was herefor a reason right and and she
was telling me again she wasfine, she was okay.
And I'm telling you, sandy, ifI hadn't had those happenings,
for our Heavenly Father to lether come through the veil like
he does for others.
(11:52):
You know, I've given, I'vegiven speeches before about the
foundation and I tell about thissegment and I have grown people
crying in the in the audienceand they'll come up to me
afterwards and they'll say myloved one came, it was a blue
dragonfly and they landed on myshoulder and then it came and it
was there for so long and thenladybugs and red cardinals, and
(12:16):
so I know in my heart that Iknow Nina was just telling me
mom, really, I'm okay, right,and I know she was whole.
You know, I know that she wasrunning and jumping into the
arms of our Heavenly Father andwe wouldn't be here today if we
didn't have our faith.
There have been times when youknow you just you sit and think,
(12:37):
but I never question what ourHeavenly Father has asked us to
do for his will.
This is his purpose.
We're just his instruments, youknow, fulfilling his plan right
.
So that's what keeps us going.
The last time that we saw Nina,craig was going to Austin and
he was traveling to the healthand human resources and was
(13:00):
asked to attend a meeting.
And then, you know, they justall of a sudden changed their
mind and the gentleman wouldn'tcome out.
He wouldn't say why and he wasdistraught when he called and I
said please don't come home.
Just, you know, stay and youknow start out in the morning.
And he goes no, I'm gonna gograb a cup of coffee at
(13:24):
McDonald's and I'll be right.
You know, I'll be home.
Give me about five hours, fiveand a half.
And I said okay.
And so I started crying withChristina and I said please
watch your daddy, please watchyour daddy.
And he called, yelling andscreaming and crying and taking
pictures showing us that therewas a yellow butterfly with
(13:44):
black rim inside the car on thepassenger side window.
So, wow, that was the last timeshe came, but she took care of
her daddy and he made it home.
And from.
You know, from that point onit's just been people have just
(14:07):
been put into the foundationslife.
And we just cannot even imaginebeing where we are today, in
this short period of time thatit's been open to be, where we
are helping so many families andwe're partnered with the
University of Texas MedicalBranch, with their students,
(14:29):
their future medicalprofessionals.
And you know, when I thinkabout it, sandy, after we had
all these appointments which youknow I lovingly, when I see
faces of family members thatcome to our programs, my hearts
there with them, because I knowwhat they're going through, you
know.
So they're a little bit of joythat they get from these
(14:49):
programs when they come it justmeans the world.
But those experiences whendoctors would tell us that
Christina had no worth, you know, in that she was a vegetable,
whatever that meant to a 23 yearold at the time, you know I
didn't understand that, but youknow you should put her in a
(15:10):
home and get on with your life.
You know how do you do that.
I mean, that's my child.
Sandy (15:15):
I can't believe.
Josephine (15:16):
They told you that oh , and you know, and that's what
Craig and I we talk about it wego.
Do you understand what we'redoing?
We're educating the futuremedical professionals, not to
for them to have compassion andempathy and and to understand.
This child belongs to those twopeople over there, or that one
(15:37):
mom struggling by herself as asingle mother.
You know they, they belong to afamily and to to have been
treated like that.
Well, now, going on 42 yearsthat she's been and gone.
Well, she was born.
We know it.
We know it.
So I I know that this is thejourney, that part of the
(15:57):
journey that he's asked us to beon, because Dr Far has been an
incredible mentor from UTMB.
Dr Brown, just just the peoplethat have been placed in our
lives to be able to do this isjust incredible.
Sandy (16:13):
I love that you have that piece with the, the students
from UTMB.
You know our.
My son is 21 he's not that oldand when he was first born we
lived in Ohio and I started asupport group for moms who had
kids with disabilities because Ididn't want to be alone.
I remember when I was pregnantwith him and we found out he was
(16:36):
going to have Down syndrome,which isn't very complicated,
right the doctor looked at usand he said what are you going
to do about this pregnancy?
And I had.
You know, we had four otherchildren at the time.
We were shocked and I said whatdo you mean?
And he said you only have aweek and a half to make up your
mind whether you're going toabort.
And we said absolutely not.
(16:58):
This is our child, he said.
He stared at us.
Here's the thing we weresupposed to be in a meeting with
five specialists to guide anddirect our the rest of my
pregnancy path and the plan forbirth, because one in 10
children I forget what thestatistics are, but I think it's
one in 10 children survivebirth.
He was the only man at themeeting.
(17:19):
Nobody else showed up and so helooked at us and he said I'm of
the mind.
Life without intelligence is nolife at all.
Oh my gosh, I was stunned.
That's just so.
I'm not a comforting thing tosay to anybody.
I was so angry, if anything,that stirred us on more.
Oh, you just wait and see, youknow.
(17:40):
But it's so comforting to know,because some of those moms that
were in that support group hadmore horrific experiences than I
did.
One mother, the doctor, yelledat her and said who do you think
you are, mother Teresa?
This child's going to ruin yourlife Like no, statements are
something you don't ever forget.
Josephine (18:00):
No, no, ma'am.
Sandy (18:03):
So I'm so excited and all of those students that you work
with are just amazingindividuals.
Josephine (18:11):
They're just, and that's what you want to see.
You know, that's what you wantthem to develop that sense of
there are people in the worldwho are of differing abilities
and I'm going to experience thatin my life as a future medical
professional.
Right, the thing that Dr Farrhas done as well.
(18:33):
He introduced us to theuniversity, the UT Health System
Dentistry in Houston, and threeof the colleagues came out to
account possibilities inGalveston and Dr David Frey.
He just looked at me and withtears in his eyes and he says
(18:55):
look at the bond of trust itgoes, look at what you have
created.
I want this for my dentalstudents.
When can we start?
So Al Craig and I sit on theadvisory board and a committee
that actually will.
They'll actually be at thisfascinating event that we're
(19:18):
going to have this Saturday.
I can't wait to tell you about.
But they help children with IDDto understand the process and
it's not a sterile, it's socomforting.
Even as an adult I would loveit, but the way they are
approaching it is just going tobe incredible.
(19:41):
They have so many otherprofessionals in the area that
are on this committee and about22, and that to be a part of
that is just that's anotherguided sign for Craig and I.
Sandy (19:59):
Amazing.
Yet dentistry for our kids isreally, really challenging, and
I mean, I see some individualswith differing abilities who
wear braces and I think, whoa,that's hard for a typically
developing child.
Who did they find that was ableto do that process with them?
So it's a long process too.
So this is a real excitingthing.
(20:20):
I'm excited to hear more aboutthat.
I do want to back up a littlebit with another question I had
for you.
How did you go from initiallydoing life plans to now doing
adaptive and inclusive sports?
Josephine (20:33):
That is a very, very interesting question.
We were coming out of St Mary'sCathedral in Galveston from
Mass and a friend I went toschool with my sister Grace,
approached us and he said, can Ido a tennis tournament for your
(20:57):
foundation?
And I said, well, that is sokind, it's Coach Marino.
And I said, well, yeah, thankyou.
And so our minds start workingand we're talking and thinking
and I went and looked up tennison USTA United States Tennis
(21:20):
Association and there, lo andbehold, was adaptive tennis and
adaptive tennis.
From that got in touch with therepresentative from Houston for
USTA and she introduced me to DrMichael Cottingham, the U of H,
university of Houston,wheelchair tennis, ok.
(21:43):
And they came and did an expoat the tournament and they
brought extra wheelchairs theywere wheelchair athletes so that
people from the crowd couldcome down and see the
athleticism it really took forthem to play tennis.
The only difference is that theball gets to bounce twice.
(22:05):
And then we, and then I,contacted Special Olympics and
two beautiful young ladies thathad just come from China
promoting Special Olympics, whowere very introverted.
They weren't then and itdoesn't so much for them Explain
(22:26):
to the crowd how much SpecialOlympics meant to them and
adaptive tennis.
So then I applied and they cameout to do the expo and since
then I've sat on the committeefor adaptive and wheelchair
tennis for USTA.
Ok, and that's how we startedthat program.
(22:48):
And then on and on it just keptgrowing to other sports,
adaptive sports, yeah.
Sandy (22:54):
So that leads me to my next question.
So tell us more about theChristina Sullivan Foundation.
What services, I guess whatsports do you offer to all of
the individuals who are part ofit?
Josephine (23:04):
Well, actually the Christina Sullivan Foundation
assists children and adults withintellectual and physical
challenges, all differentabilities, and we assist them
through programs and activities.
And when I think about it, yes,we do have adaptive sports, but
we've also have the teachingkitchen, which actually assists
(23:26):
in the MyPlate version from thegovernment that we follow and we
help them to understand, toshop, prep, cook and serve.
Families go out and they're inthe grocery store with their
loved ones and they're takingthings off the shelf and taking
pictures, and then they comehome and they prep and they're
(23:47):
taking pictures and then they'recooking and then they're
serving and then we share thoseand that's nutrition.
Our children, for our adults,our children Nutrition and
healthy choices is veryimportant.
And then we have, of course,choir, adaptive eSports.
We have capstone students and acapstone student spends 14
(24:11):
weeks with the foundation andthey come to develop other
programs and curriculum thatwe're interested in actually
having for our athletes ofdifferent abilities.
One was for eSports adaptiveinclusive eSports, that's gaming
(24:31):
, and one young man had 245voluntary hours from Ball High
and we had an athlete that hadno arms.
He played tennis with his foot.
He was amazing and that smilewas I will never.
I will never not see that smile.
He goes Ms Sullivan, can Iplease make a device that he
(24:54):
could play with us at the bigtournament that we're going to
have?
And I said, well, sure, let'sshow me what you got.
And he went online, did a 3Dprinter, had an adaptive
controller that fit over thecontroller that he could use and
manipulate with his feet.
At 25 years old, it was thefirst time this young man had
(25:17):
ever played a game with AnthonyCanton's Arrow and there wasn't
a dry eye in the house.
In fact, at the time, microsofthad partnered with us and still
partnered with us and had givensome equipment that they were
calling their people and takingpictures and saying, look at
(25:37):
this, because they were actuallyusing one of the controllers,
that he was actually breakingwith one of the controllers from
what they had given to thefoundation.
So between that and oh my gosh,I'm trying to think of all of
them that we have.
We have Nina's Choir of Angels,bacchi Ball, volleyball, we're
(26:01):
going to have chess for thefirst time, adaptive chess and
actually one of our athletes isgoing to be teaching that he is
very proficient in chess and hewants to share that, and there's
just so much more.
I'm trying to at this momentthey all tell me about.
Sandy (26:18):
It's all on your website.
Yeah, it is.
It is Well.
Tell us about Nina's Choir ofAngels.
Josephine (26:23):
Nina's choir of angels started when Dr Far there
is again our mentor asked us toassist in a.
It's called Christmas shareyour Christmas and it's with the
Shriners group for the burnchildren, and this last we've
been with them.
This will be their third annual.
(26:43):
In fact, I wrote an emailyesterday explaining how we were
going to be a part of it andhow, all of a sudden now we have
35 athletes that are going tostart Learning Christmas songs
mid-October.
For this event we actually goand we sing for the families of
the burn children and anincredible gathering of vendors
(27:06):
will come and Like give socks wedid.
We donated over 200 pairs ofsocks last year and they come
and they bring things that youknow it's like going Christmas,
you know having Christmas giftsgiven.
Right right, you bring oure-sports and and we do have
board games and lots ofvolunteers that come as well.
(27:26):
So it's, it's just joy.
Yeah and from that, oh my gosh,from that it's music and
medicine, and they had likecello and violin and things of
that nature.
And one of the young ladieslast year came up and she goes
miss Sullivan, can I do acquirewith your students, to your,
(27:46):
your participants, and I said,oh, that would be amazing.
And she came back to me, shegoes.
And here's dr Fargan, he goes.
He gave the okay for them tocome and now it's offered its
music and art camp possibilities.
So we're so looking forward tothat pilot program in January.
Sandy (28:06):
Yes, music and art, I love it.
Yeah, I think I signed up myson for that one just because I
want to be a part of that too.
So what is your greatest joy?
I already know, but what isyour greatest joy in doing the
work that you do?
Josephine (28:20):
I've seen, seen happiness, being able to be
there when a mom or dad orsomeone is crying, listening,
being a good listener, the joyof Having the support of the
families that you know, assistand do everything that they
(28:42):
possibly can.
But it's, it's that joy I seeNina's face and every, every
athlete that comes through thedoor, that, every athlete or
family that participates itkeeps us going.
Sandy (28:57):
Tell us about the end of every athletic event, what all
of the athletes do, because Ilove this.
Josephine (29:03):
Okay, I don't know what possessed me when we first
started this and it was the veryfirst tennis, adaptive tennis
program and there was just someway I wanted to say thank you to
Christina and I wanted them toknow her.
You know, I wanted them to knowthat.
You know she's watching overthem always and On we get
(29:26):
everybody gathered together.
So there's just this big.
It was like, oh my gosh, Iwould say 75 to 80 people,
because we have, besides, theUTMB Students and and the
athletes and their families andthe faculty On one, two, three,
we all yell Nina Nina is thenickname that her brother,
(29:47):
christian, gave her fromChristina.
So that is, and I, and now the,the athletes, they absolutely
they look forward and they loveit.
And you know, you know I, Italked to Nina today, or I know
Nina's watching over me today.
Sandy (30:02):
And they all throw tennis balls at the same time at the
photographer, usually at you andCraig.
Josephine (30:08):
Yes, blesses.
Yeah, it's usually tennis balls.
When Bachi came around andeverybody wanted to throw those,
we asked them to please rollthem.
So yeah, it depends on thesport.
Absolutely yeah that's awesome.
Sandy (30:24):
I love that.
It's a great way to wrap it upand, like you said, it's a
Really amazing way to keep thatconnection going for the, the
athlete, so they understand thewhole reason behind everything
that they're doing when theycome to participate in something
at your foundation.
I was gonna ask you next aboutsharing a success story, but
before we get to that, can youtell us about the event that's
(30:46):
coming up on Saturday, becauseit's amazing.
Josephine (30:49):
Absolutely.
Thank you for letting me sharethat it's.
It's.
That was that's another storytoo.
We were on the grounds lookingfor a venue to have some land
sports that we, that we actuallyare in, and the general manager
came down of activities andsaid well, you know, we do water
, adaptive water Sports festival.
(31:11):
Would you like to partner?
This is Moody Gardens and youknow everybody had to contain
themselves and so we partnerwith them.
And on this Saturday, septemberthe 30th, from 9 am To 3 pm, is
it?
It's for an athlete ofdifferent abilities, doesn't
(31:31):
matter, and four members oftheir family, and it's free.
You can come in, enjoy PalmBeach and the old Deanne Drabal
where the land Activities willbe adaptive activities.
We have Pickleball.
The greater Houston pickleballwill be there teaching
(31:52):
pickleball, and so will thepickleball Mascot.
He'll be there as well.
But we're gonna have theUniversity of Houston will chair
tennis.
They're going to be there withyouth and adult will chair
tennis and and a ambulatorytennis, standing tennis.
(32:12):
We're going to have beatbaseball for the blind and
visually impaired oh, sandy,it's amazing to watch these
athletes and We'll have archery.
That is, the Texas Parks andWildlife will have one section
of archery and another section,cody Dunn, will have archery,
(32:34):
adaptive archery and then we'regoing to have para air rifle
shooting and that's ball.
High school in Galveston, rotc.
We're so happy but to have them.
And then you're going to haveAdaptive aquatics for skiing,
c-star base for sailing, fishingwith fishing futures, with
(32:57):
Terry Smith, kayaking with TexasSea camp.
I mean just, it's all free andwe just want People to come in
and enjoy them and try them,because you don't know, you know
you may find a sport that youmay love and you know, anything
(33:18):
has been official stressreliever, getting out in the
sunshine with vitamin D.
But you know, it's, it's, it'sthere, it's, it's there.
The mayor is going to be there.
He is so gracious, mayor CraigBrown and his lovely wife Angela
, and I Think it's just going tobe an incredible.
(33:38):
We can't thank Robert Cowley'sand, of course, the general
manager of Moody Gardens, mrJohnson, for the opportunity for
us to be able to bring thesethis, this awareness, right of
hope and inclusion.
That's.
That's really what it's allabout.
Yeah.
Sandy (33:58):
Hope and inclusion.
You know, and I've told thisstory, I think, a few times on
the podcast, when talking toother moms and they bring up
your foundation.
I had seen on Facebook for along time a lot of the my
friends who have their childrenthat were attending adaptive
tennis and I kept thinking, oh,how nice, it must be so fun to
be able to do that.
You know, and I think at onepoint I must have voiced it to
(34:21):
one of the mothers and she saidwell, sign, just sign up.
And I just laughed and I said,oh, no, no, no, they're not
ready for him.
And she's Whoever it was, itwas one of the GH feds.
Mom said you know, this isadaptive tennis, right, like
they will meet him where he's at.
And so I was like, oh, withmuch trepidation, okay, we'll
(34:43):
try, because I'm always willingto try everything, because, like
you said, you never know whatis going to be Something that
clicks, that they really enjoydoing.
So we took them.
I didn't hold out a lot of hopeIn secretly to myself, but you
guys were amazing.
I mean, I think the individualthat was assigned to him right
away Just had an immediateconnection.
(35:03):
Josiah felt that and he felt sowelcomed.
Craig came over and was likeactually playing with him.
You've always done that tooJust really interacted.
You make everybody feel likewe're the only ones there.
Even though the tennis courtsare packed with hundreds of
people, it feels like because ofall the parents and the
students.
You guys just always makeeverybody feel like you're there
for them, and there are timeswhen Josiah is not all about the
(35:27):
sport, but Everybody theremakes each of the individuals
feel like we're here for you andwe want you to have a great
time.
So I can't thank you guys enough.
I've signed him up for almosteverything practically now that
I think he might enjoy.
No, it might be a battle, butover time he's going to come to
love it, I think, as much as allof the other individuals do to
the athletes and the Studentsand all the volunteers, and you
(35:51):
guys are just, I don't knowworld-class.
It's just amazing.
I wish everybody could have theopportunity to participate.
Thank you so much.
Ok, so anyway, thank you formaking us feel like we fit,
because sometimes I don't feellike we do.
You know I do.
Oh, wow.
Anyway, pull up back together,ok, so can you share an example
(36:14):
of a success story with us likea time when your intervention
really made a positivedifference.
Josephine (36:20):
An intervention that made a positive.
I don't know which one to evenstart with.
I'm sure there's many.
I'm looking over at Craig hegoes.
There's so many.
One mom whose daughter really itwas her diagnosis that did not
(36:42):
allow her to be with others, andI was approached by Dr Frioni,
who is amazing at UTMB, andSusie Garrick.
Dr Garrick and asked if wewould just could we try and see
if this is something that shecould do, because behavior-wise
(37:04):
it was just something that youknow in her diagnosis she
couldn't do, and told me all thethings to be aware of and of
course they have to fill out anathlete profile and that was
something that the foundationcame up with to understand the
diagnoses and what to do andwhat not to do and how to handle
(37:25):
situations.
Well, we were waiting for theworst to happen.
We were prepared for that.
That young lady came in with herbuddy it was a teaching kitchen
and I can still see it in mymind and her mom crying out in
the area because we had them inthe little kitchen part, because
(37:48):
she had taken to her buddy andshe was actually chopping with
the knife and she was blendingwith the mixing bowl and the
mixer had the most beautifulsmile, so that to us was look,
and she was around all the otherathletes and buddies in the
(38:09):
kitchen, so that in itself wasjust.
That was incredible To be ableto be a part of that, and they
came and have been coming toever since.
Sandy (38:23):
Incredible.
So her diagnosis kind ofprohibited that type of activity
.
But you guys just provide sucha loving, amazing experience.
Josephine (38:34):
I think it was the parents, one last hope.
And then at the bowling becauseof course we do adapt to
bowling too she had herentourage, a family behind her,
yelling and screaming andcheering her on, which was
really quite exciting.
So I didn't know that they knewthat the foundation had made
(38:54):
that change, that loving change.
I think that's what keeps usgoing, Sandy, yeah.
Sandy (39:01):
Oh yeah, we're so blessed to live in this area because I
feel like there's so muchavailable to our individuals
that have differing needs.
But what advice do you have forparents in regards to seeking
adaptive exercise for theirchild, who maybe don't live near
us and are excited to learnthat these are options available
(39:21):
to them?
They might have to seek themout.
Are there other things likethis in other states that you're
aware of?
Josephine (39:27):
Not that I'm aware of , but I think the school
district can help quite a bit toguide them and to have things
on your website say contact us,because of 4.45 this morning.
I received last night and Isaid I'm getting up and I'm
(39:49):
going to answer this mom.
It came in on contact us.
So if they have that anywhere,go to the school district first.
Please let them help you.
But I answered her she's hereat Shriners Hospital for
intensive PTOT and speech.
She goes, but my daughter'sfinished at 1 o'clock.
What activities are availablehere on Galveston Island?
(40:12):
And I told her about Bacchijust now starting and of course,
the event on Saturday.
So I think it's that part oftechnology I absolutely love.
We can go, seek it Back in theday.
That was the daunting part wasyou go and you find.
(40:33):
But this way parents have thatopportunity.
I would so start with my schooldistrict and ask them to please
give some kind of guidance andthen PDA things of that nature
look up adaptive programs in myarea.
(40:54):
I think the world is coming tolove and accept.
We have a long way to go andwe're getting there, but we've
got our foot in the door andwe're not taking it out.
Sandy (41:10):
I imagine it isn't inexpensive to run this type of
foundation.
How can the community bestsupport you guys with the
amazing work that you do?
Josephine (41:21):
That I appreciate.
All our programs are at no costand free of charge because we
have been there and done thatand we know we have, up until
the end of the year, afundraiser and we're trying to
raise the funds for the athletesto be able to come to the
(41:45):
programs for no cost.
So actually just go to ourwebsite and we'll put the link
in that voice in the backgroundChristinaSalvinfoundationcom and
it'll say how to donate.
And it's to give Andorg, did Isaycom?
Ok, yeah, yeahorg.
Sandy (42:08):
Yeah, I mean that's just amazing, that the level of the
quality of what you provide forthe athletes is just amazing.
But the fact that it's all freeof charge to families and talk
about the students, becausethese are students from UTMB
that are volunteering their timethe amount of time that is
(42:29):
volunteered on their part, yes,and I will tell you this.
Josephine (42:34):
Yes, it is a volunteer type program right now
, but they have embraced thisprogram to where we have three
five-year contracts with theSchool of Medicine, the School
of Nursing and the School ofHealth Professions and we have a
two-year contract with Capstonestudents who do their
(42:55):
dissertations and projects.
We are now collecting data andanalysis and we hope that within
a year that this will be anaccredited program for the
students to have credit hours,because we have evolved the
(43:15):
program.
We have parents cornered let'stalk about it and the students
are bringing in resources forfamilies.
We have six major topics andthen we have, of course, the
adaptive sport.
We have motor moves that aremonocomuscle.
She doesn't know aboutmonocomuscle.
She's telling you and teachingyou about all the muscles and,
(43:37):
in motor moves, fitbits andkeeping them healthy.
And then we have let us talknutrition, head of let us, with
eyes that make you smile andteaching them nutrition.
So, with the UTMB studentsbeing a part of all the aspects
of the program, we're working onthat and I am prayerful within
(44:01):
a year that it could actually be.
We've gone through the process,we know what it takes, we have
UTMB faculty assisting andthat's what we're working
towards.
Sandy (44:13):
Yeah, that's phenomenal that they can get credit for all
that they do with this.
That's just beautiful.
I love it.
Yeah, we're working on.
I'm sure it's a lengthy process, but that's awesome.
What's the best way for someoneto get in touch with you if
they wanted to, you know, findout more or volunteer to help if
there's something thatsomebody's interested in doing?
Josephine (44:35):
Info at Christina Sullivan Foundationorg.
Okay.
That's how that mom did it andI'm sure I'm going to see her on
Tuesday.
Yeah, I'm pretty sure she'sgoing to be there with her
daughter, which would be great.
Sandy (44:50):
Yes.
One last thing, because it'sright behind you.
I want you to talk to us aboutwhat you have in your new office
.
Josephine (44:58):
Okay, Well, it's called Nina's Cafe and that was
Christina's headboard and I justcouldn't part with it because
on the sides there's threeshelves on one side and three on
the other.
We would have her suctionmachine, feeding machine, all
kinds of machines and diapersand chucks and G2 materials and
(45:23):
things of that nature, but nowit holds cookie jars and books
and we turned it into a littlecoffee bar and put a
refrigerator in it and it's justpart of her that all of our
volunteers and athletes canenjoy.
I love it.
Sandy (45:44):
It's beautiful.
I will put a picture of that uptoo, because that's so cute.
That was such an ingenious ideato take something that was a
part of her everyday life andincorporate it into what you're
in she's continuing to do now.
Amazing, just beautiful.
Well, it has been such apleasure to have you on.
I think that what you and Craigare doing is phenomenal.
(46:05):
The gift that you're giving andNina and Christian, the gift
that you're giving thiscommunity and it's not just the
Galveston community, it'sspreading through so many areas
is just unsurpassed.
You give so many and it's inyour mission statement.
You give so many of us hope,and that's beautiful.
(46:25):
Thank you so much for beinghere and for continuing to do
what you do.
I'm excited to see all that theChristina Sennlund Foundation
has going forward, because Iknow it's going to continue to
grow and just get even moreamazing.
Thank you for you.
Yeah we love you guys.
Thank you so much Love you.
Thank you.
Thanks for listening to theEmbrace the Blessing podcast.
(46:47):
Visit embracetheblessingcomslash podcast for show notes and
links to any resourcesmentioned.
If this has been beneficial toyou, please share it with a
friend or post it on your socialmedia pages.
Join me next Wednesday for moreinspiring stories from people
just like you.
Hey there, I'm Sandy Deppish, and this is the Embrace
the Blessing podcast.
Each week, I talk with a parentwho has a child with a
disability.
They share their biggestchallenge, their greatest joy
and their hopes and dreams forthe future.
You'll learn about resourcesavailable to you and discover
helpful hints and tips If youwant to be inspired and
(00:27):
encouraged, stick around.
Let's walk the road lesstraveled together.
It is such a joy to have mynext guest on the show.
This woman and her husband,their entire family, are just
some of the most incrediblepeople you'll ever want to meet,
(00:49):
and it truly is my blessing tohave you here today.
So what I would love for you todo is to introduce yourself and
tell us all a little bit aboutyou.
Josephine (00:57):
Okay, thank you for having me.
This is a true blessing to behere with you.
My name is Josephine Sullivan.
I am the founder, one of thefounders and the CEO of the
Christina Sullivan Foundation.
Christina was our daughter,still is, but she's up in heaven
, and we did this foundation inher memory.
(01:20):
I'd like to say we were soguided by our heavenly father
and Christina for thisincredible journey that we're on
right now.
Sandy (01:28):
Yeah, Christina.
Tell us about Christina.
Josephine (01:33):
Oh Christina.
She was severely brain injured,cerebral palsy, g tube fed
seizure disorder.
Oh my gosh, there's so muchmore to Nina nonverbal, of
course, wheelchair bound, butthat smile in the morning, it
just woke you up.
It just gave you that sense ofknowing what unconditional love
(01:59):
is and she really helped usunderstand what life was really
all about and that's caring forone another.
And she was just a teacher hereon earth.
She went to heaven at the ageof almost 33.
Sandy (02:16):
So did you know prior to her birth that she was going to
have disabilities?
Josephine (02:21):
No, no, in fact, it was a normal pregnancy.
I've never questioned it,though, sandy.
It was just even after hearing,overhearing the nurses say she
wasn't going to live through thenight.
(02:42):
And that's when I started topray Wow, at the age of 23, to
please leave her, blessed mother, please leave her, and I will
profess my faith in everythingthat I do, and someday I'll
bring her to our lady of lordsin France and submerge her in
(03:04):
the holy waters.
And I got to do that, that'samazing.
Sandy (03:11):
Wow, you were 23.
Did you have another child atthat point?
Or she was your oldest?
Josephine (03:20):
She was my oldest.
We were blessed with our son,christian, 10 years later, and
that was a gift that ourheavenly father had given to
Craig and I, just for loving meso much.
Sandy (03:40):
That's so amazing, so you've already kind of alluded
to it.
But what inspired you to startyour foundation?
Josephine (03:49):
Oh, this is.
This is an amazing journey.
My neighbor saw me hopelesslyin grief six months after Nina
had gone to heaven and she said,josephine, you really need to
go to grief share.
That's a 13 week program atMoody Methodist Moody Methodist
(04:11):
Church.
So I went and I'm not one forgroups where I wasn't, but I
understand now.
And when I went there and we'reall around the table and one
lady was crying for her mothershe had just lost and of course
you tell about the loved onethat has gone to heaven and
(04:32):
afterwards she came up to me andshe said no-transcript, my
granddaughter sounds a lot likeyour daughter and we're about to
lose SSI.
Well, we were both crying and Itook that lady and I pushed her
back by her shoulders and saidI can help you with that.
So that was my aha moment, theone father, jude, at Christina's
(04:55):
celebration of life that myfamily owes their heart to.
He just said Josephine, ifyou'll listen, our heavenly
father will tell you what yournext journey will be.
And that's where it started.
And from then on it was just asif things just kept happening
like they were supposed to.
(05:16):
Just, you know the foundationitself.
My son took a gap year becausehe had fallen apart.
He was everything to Nina andhe came home to be with us and
we were given away one of herwheelchairs and putting it in
the car.
And then, all of a sudden, thelady that had helped us for
(05:38):
years, she goes, sissy, look upand when there wasn't a cloud in
the sky, and then all of asudden there's this beautiful
arrangement of clouds that isactually the symbol of
Christina's foundation today andthat was giving away one of her
wheelchairs.
And then Christian had somephotographs in an art walk in
(06:01):
Galveston and a gentleman cameup to us that was there with a
friend and I didn't know him andI'm showing him the cloud in
the sky and what we'd love to beable to do to help people and
he goes.
Well, I can do that for you.
I'm an attorney, we can do thatpro bono and create a 501C3 for
(06:23):
you.
So I'm in the middle of thisart gallery, crying, knowing
that it's Nina again and thepapers were drawn and we go in
and, lo and behold, there's aCPA there that said oh, you know
, my husband loves what you doand would like to talk to y'all.
(06:43):
Happened to be Dr Brent Maisel,who was 30 years, ceo of the
Transitional Learning Center.
So for brain injury, come on,sandy.
So we go and talk to him and westarted doing live care plans
for people who had come toGalveston to seek that
(07:05):
rehabilitation and then, whenthey would go off, we had
multiple computers that were agift from a family that we would
actually do research on andfind all the things that any
family would need wherever theywere in the country.
And that's how that started.
But yeah, just the journey justkept going, on and on and on.
(07:25):
And here we are today Over 247athletes just this fall and
those are children withdifferent abilities, children,
youth and adults and it's beenan incredible journey with
challenges.
Of course, if you don't havethe challenges, you cannot
(07:46):
appreciate and love yourblessings that are given Right.
Sandy (07:50):
But we're here today and we're moving right along and
you're doing incredible work.
I wanted to back up just a bit.
Tell everybody who is notfamiliar, who may not be
familiar with your foundationabout the cloud, what it looked
like.
Josephine (08:06):
The cloud was absolutely incredible.
It had like two wings and justthe facial feature itself.
My son took it and he createdon his tablet the most
simplistic, beautiful image ofthe cloud formation that looked
(08:32):
like an angel and wasn't anangel.
It was Nina and it wasincredible to see it.
And people calling in andfriends of mine and saying, did
you see that?
Did you see that?
And people took pictures of itand were sending it to me.
But he did.
He's the one, through his love,created that image.
(08:52):
And then I could go on the, Ithink the six months that were
so hard for us as a family.
And still today grief doesn'tgo away.
It's there and that's justbecause you love your loved one
so much.
But he took experiences.
(09:15):
We had at least six of them.
Christina went everywhere.
We took her everywhere, itdidn't matter Grocery store,
football games, movies, I mean,she was a go girl, she loved to
go, yeah.
So we got Christian out of hisroom because he was to graduate
that December from college andsaid come on, your sister
doesn't want this, let's just goto your football game.
So we went and it would bewhere Christina would be in the
(09:39):
handicap section, on the end, inthe end zones, and here comes
this yellow butterfly, solidyellow, with black rim around it
, and it lands on the railingwhere Nina's chair would have
been sitting in front of.
And then, yeah, and then wethought, okay, that's so
beautiful, and you know, we bothall look, we all looked at each
(10:01):
other and we thought that wasjust something very pretty.
But two weeks later, when we goback for the second football
game to get Christian out, itcame again.
And then we knew, and then weall started crying and that was
her way of telling us that.
You know she was, she was okay.
And even though you know ourhearts were just broken.
(10:24):
It's hard not to hold yourloved one, but she, you know,
she appeared a couple of moretimes when it was just really
hard.
And that's how I knew I wasrunning on the seawall and I was
(10:47):
trying to anyway.
But I hadn't been sleeping andChristian and Craig were in
front of me and I just textedhim and said I just can't do it,
you know, I'm just gonna goback to the car.
And so I went and sat down infront of the car and I'm at the
end of the seawall and I'myelling at our Heavenly Father
saying just take me right now.
(11:09):
I have to see her, I have tosee her.
And about that time, after Iwas having that conversation
with our Heavenly Father, herecomes my son running towards me
mom, are you okay?
And then he picks me up andabout that time, on the side of
the car comes the yellowbutterfly with the black rim
(11:31):
around it.
So I knew then that I was herefor a reason right and and she
was telling me again she wasfine, she was okay.
And I'm telling you, sandy, ifI hadn't had those happenings,
for our Heavenly Father to lether come through the veil like
he does for others.
(11:52):
You know, I've given, I'vegiven speeches before about the
foundation and I tell about thissegment and I have grown people
crying in the in the audienceand they'll come up to me
afterwards and they'll say myloved one came, it was a blue
dragonfly and they landed on myshoulder and then it came and it
was there for so long and thenladybugs and red cardinals, and
(12:16):
so I know in my heart that Iknow Nina was just telling me
mom, really, I'm okay, right,and I know she was whole.
You know, I know that she wasrunning and jumping into the
arms of our Heavenly Father andwe wouldn't be here today if we
didn't have our faith.
There have been times when youknow you just you sit and think,
(12:37):
but I never question what ourHeavenly Father has asked us to
do for his will.
This is his purpose.
We're just his instruments, youknow, fulfilling his plan right
.
So that's what keeps us going.
The last time that we saw Nina,craig was going to Austin and
he was traveling to the healthand human resources and was
(13:00):
asked to attend a meeting.
And then, you know, they justall of a sudden changed their
mind and the gentleman wouldn'tcome out.
He wouldn't say why and he wasdistraught when he called and I
said please don't come home.
Just, you know, stay and youknow start out in the morning.
And he goes no, I'm gonna gograb a cup of coffee at
(13:24):
McDonald's and I'll be right.
You know, I'll be home.
Give me about five hours, fiveand a half.
And I said okay.
And so I started crying withChristina and I said please
watch your daddy, please watchyour daddy.
And he called, yelling andscreaming and crying and taking
pictures showing us that therewas a yellow butterfly with
(13:44):
black rim inside the car on thepassenger side window.
So, wow, that was the last timeshe came, but she took care of
her daddy and he made it home.
And from.
You know, from that point onit's just been people have just
(14:07):
been put into the foundationslife.
And we just cannot even imaginebeing where we are today, in
this short period of time thatit's been open to be, where we
are helping so many families andwe're partnered with the
University of Texas MedicalBranch, with their students,
(14:29):
their future medicalprofessionals.
And you know, when I thinkabout it, sandy, after we had
all these appointments which youknow I lovingly, when I see
faces of family members thatcome to our programs, my hearts
there with them, because I knowwhat they're going through, you
know.
So they're a little bit of joythat they get from these
(14:49):
programs when they come it justmeans the world.
But those experiences whendoctors would tell us that
Christina had no worth, you know, in that she was a vegetable,
whatever that meant to a 23 yearold at the time, you know I
didn't understand that, but youknow you should put her in a
(15:10):
home and get on with your life.
You know how do you do that.
I mean, that's my child.
Sandy (15:15):
I can't believe.
Josephine (15:16):
They told you that oh , and you know, and that's what
Craig and I we talk about it wego.
Do you understand what we'redoing?
We're educating the futuremedical professionals, not to
for them to have compassion andempathy and and to understand.
This child belongs to those twopeople over there, or that one
(15:37):
mom struggling by herself as asingle mother.
You know they, they belong to afamily and to to have been
treated like that.
Well, now, going on 42 yearsthat she's been and gone.
Well, she was born.
We know it.
We know it.
So I I know that this is thejourney, that part of the
(15:57):
journey that he's asked us to beon, because Dr Far has been an
incredible mentor from UTMB.
Dr Brown, just just the peoplethat have been placed in our
lives to be able to do this isjust incredible.
Sandy (16:13):
I love that you have that piece with the, the students
from UTMB.
You know our.
My son is 21 he's not that oldand when he was first born we
lived in Ohio and I started asupport group for moms who had
kids with disabilities because Ididn't want to be alone.
I remember when I was pregnantwith him and we found out he was
(16:36):
going to have Down syndrome,which isn't very complicated,
right the doctor looked at usand he said what are you going
to do about this pregnancy?
And I had.
You know, we had four otherchildren at the time.
We were shocked and I said whatdo you mean?
And he said you only have aweek and a half to make up your
mind whether you're going toabort.
And we said absolutely not.
(16:58):
This is our child, he said.
He stared at us.
Here's the thing we weresupposed to be in a meeting with
five specialists to guide anddirect our the rest of my
pregnancy path and the plan forbirth, because one in 10
children I forget what thestatistics are, but I think it's
one in 10 children survivebirth.
He was the only man at themeeting.
(17:19):
Nobody else showed up and so helooked at us and he said I'm of
the mind.
Life without intelligence is nolife at all.
Oh my gosh, I was stunned.
That's just so.
I'm not a comforting thing tosay to anybody.
I was so angry, if anything,that stirred us on more.
Oh, you just wait and see, youknow.
(17:40):
But it's so comforting to know,because some of those moms that
were in that support group hadmore horrific experiences than I
did.
One mother, the doctor, yelledat her and said who do you think
you are, mother Teresa?
This child's going to ruin yourlife Like no, statements are
something you don't ever forget.
Josephine (18:00):
No, no, ma'am.
Sandy (18:03):
So I'm so excited and all of those students that you work
with are just amazingindividuals.
Josephine (18:11):
They're just, and that's what you want to see.
You know, that's what you wantthem to develop that sense of
there are people in the worldwho are of differing abilities
and I'm going to experience thatin my life as a future medical
professional.
Right, the thing that Dr Farrhas done as well.
(18:33):
He introduced us to theuniversity, the UT Health System
Dentistry in Houston, and threeof the colleagues came out to
account possibilities inGalveston and Dr David Frey.
He just looked at me and withtears in his eyes and he says
(18:55):
look at the bond of trust itgoes, look at what you have
created.
I want this for my dentalstudents.
When can we start?
So Al Craig and I sit on theadvisory board and a committee
that actually will.
They'll actually be at thisfascinating event that we're
(19:18):
going to have this Saturday.
I can't wait to tell you about.
But they help children with IDDto understand the process and
it's not a sterile, it's socomforting.
Even as an adult I would loveit, but the way they are
approaching it is just going tobe incredible.
(19:41):
They have so many otherprofessionals in the area that
are on this committee and about22, and that to be a part of
that is just that's anotherguided sign for Craig and I.
Sandy (19:59):
Amazing.
Yet dentistry for our kids isreally, really challenging, and
I mean, I see some individualswith differing abilities who
wear braces and I think, whoa,that's hard for a typically
developing child.
Who did they find that was ableto do that process with them?
So it's a long process too.
So this is a real excitingthing.
(20:20):
I'm excited to hear more aboutthat.
I do want to back up a littlebit with another question I had
for you.
How did you go from initiallydoing life plans to now doing
adaptive and inclusive sports?
Josephine (20:33):
That is a very, very interesting question.
We were coming out of St Mary'sCathedral in Galveston from
Mass and a friend I went toschool with my sister Grace,
approached us and he said, can Ido a tennis tournament for your
(20:57):
foundation?
And I said, well, that is sokind, it's Coach Marino.
And I said, well, yeah, thankyou.
And so our minds start workingand we're talking and thinking
and I went and looked up tennison USTA United States Tennis
(21:20):
Association and there, lo andbehold, was adaptive tennis and
adaptive tennis.
From that got in touch with therepresentative from Houston for
USTA and she introduced me to DrMichael Cottingham, the U of H,
university of Houston,wheelchair tennis, ok.
(21:43):
And they came and did an expoat the tournament and they
brought extra wheelchairs theywere wheelchair athletes so that
people from the crowd couldcome down and see the
athleticism it really took forthem to play tennis.
The only difference is that theball gets to bounce twice.
(22:05):
And then we, and then I,contacted Special Olympics and
two beautiful young ladies thathad just come from China
promoting Special Olympics, whowere very introverted.
They weren't then and itdoesn't so much for them Explain
(22:26):
to the crowd how much SpecialOlympics meant to them and
adaptive tennis.
So then I applied and they cameout to do the expo and since
then I've sat on the committeefor adaptive and wheelchair
tennis for USTA.
Ok, and that's how we startedthat program.
(22:48):
And then on and on it just keptgrowing to other sports,
adaptive sports, yeah.
Sandy (22:54):
So that leads me to my next question.
So tell us more about theChristina Sullivan Foundation.
What services, I guess whatsports do you offer to all of
the individuals who are part ofit?
Josephine (23:04):
Well, actually the Christina Sullivan Foundation
assists children and adults withintellectual and physical
challenges, all differentabilities, and we assist them
through programs and activities.
And when I think about it, yes,we do have adaptive sports, but
we've also have the teachingkitchen, which actually assists
(23:26):
in the MyPlate version from thegovernment that we follow and we
help them to understand, toshop, prep, cook and serve.
Families go out and they're inthe grocery store with their
loved ones and they're takingthings off the shelf and taking
pictures, and then they comehome and they prep and they're
(23:47):
taking pictures and then they'recooking and then they're
serving and then we share thoseand that's nutrition.
Our children, for our adults,our children Nutrition and
healthy choices is veryimportant.
And then we have, of course,choir, adaptive eSports.
We have capstone students and acapstone student spends 14
(24:11):
weeks with the foundation andthey come to develop other
programs and curriculum thatwe're interested in actually
having for our athletes ofdifferent abilities.
One was for eSports adaptiveinclusive eSports, that's gaming
(24:31):
, and one young man had 245voluntary hours from Ball High
and we had an athlete that hadno arms.
He played tennis with his foot.
He was amazing and that smilewas I will never.
I will never not see that smile.
He goes Ms Sullivan, can Iplease make a device that he
(24:54):
could play with us at the bigtournament that we're going to
have?
And I said, well, sure, let'sshow me what you got.
And he went online, did a 3Dprinter, had an adaptive
controller that fit over thecontroller that he could use and
manipulate with his feet.
At 25 years old, it was thefirst time this young man had
(25:17):
ever played a game with AnthonyCanton's Arrow and there wasn't
a dry eye in the house.
In fact, at the time, microsofthad partnered with us and still
partnered with us and had givensome equipment that they were
calling their people and takingpictures and saying, look at
(25:37):
this, because they were actuallyusing one of the controllers,
that he was actually breakingwith one of the controllers from
what they had given to thefoundation.
So between that and oh my gosh,I'm trying to think of all of
them that we have.
We have Nina's Choir of Angels,bacchi Ball, volleyball, we're
(26:01):
going to have chess for thefirst time, adaptive chess and
actually one of our athletes isgoing to be teaching that he is
very proficient in chess and hewants to share that, and there's
just so much more.
I'm trying to at this momentthey all tell me about.
Sandy (26:18):
It's all on your website.
Yeah, it is.
It is Well.
Tell us about Nina's Choir ofAngels.
Josephine (26:23):
Nina's choir of angels started when Dr Far there
is again our mentor asked us toassist in a.
It's called Christmas shareyour Christmas and it's with the
Shriners group for the burnchildren, and this last we've
been with them.
This will be their third annual.
(26:43):
In fact, I wrote an emailyesterday explaining how we were
going to be a part of it andhow, all of a sudden now we have
35 athletes that are going tostart Learning Christmas songs
mid-October.
For this event we actually goand we sing for the families of
the burn children and anincredible gathering of vendors
(27:06):
will come and Like give socks wedid.
We donated over 200 pairs ofsocks last year and they come
and they bring things that youknow it's like going Christmas,
you know having Christmas giftsgiven.
Right right, you bring oure-sports and and we do have
board games and lots ofvolunteers that come as well.
(27:26):
So it's, it's just joy.
Yeah and from that, oh my gosh,from that it's music and
medicine, and they had likecello and violin and things of
that nature.
And one of the young ladieslast year came up and she goes
miss Sullivan, can I do acquirewith your students, to your,
(27:46):
your participants, and I said,oh, that would be amazing.
And she came back to me, shegoes.
And here's dr Fargan, he goes.
He gave the okay for them tocome and now it's offered its
music and art camp possibilities.
So we're so looking forward tothat pilot program in January.
Sandy (28:06):
Yes, music and art, I love it.
Yeah, I think I signed up myson for that one just because I
want to be a part of that too.
So what is your greatest joy?
I already know, but what isyour greatest joy in doing the
work that you do?
Josephine (28:20):
I've seen, seen happiness, being able to be
there when a mom or dad orsomeone is crying, listening,
being a good listener, the joyof Having the support of the
families that you know, assistand do everything that they
(28:42):
possibly can.
But it's, it's that joy I seeNina's face and every, every
athlete that comes through thedoor, that, every athlete or
family that participates itkeeps us going.
Sandy (28:57):
Tell us about the end of every athletic event, what all
of the athletes do, because Ilove this.
Josephine (29:03):
Okay, I don't know what possessed me when we first
started this and it was the veryfirst tennis, adaptive tennis
program and there was just someway I wanted to say thank you to
Christina and I wanted them toknow her.
You know, I wanted them to knowthat.
You know she's watching overthem always and On we get
(29:26):
everybody gathered together.
So there's just this big.
It was like, oh my gosh, Iwould say 75 to 80 people,
because we have, besides, theUTMB Students and and the
athletes and their families andthe faculty On one, two, three,
we all yell Nina Nina is thenickname that her brother,
(29:47):
christian, gave her fromChristina.
So that is, and I, and now the,the athletes, they absolutely
they look forward and they loveit.
And you know, you know I, Italked to Nina today, or I know
Nina's watching over me today.
Sandy (30:02):
And they all throw tennis balls at the same time at the
photographer, usually at you andCraig.
Josephine (30:08):
Yes, blesses.
Yeah, it's usually tennis balls.
When Bachi came around andeverybody wanted to throw those,
we asked them to please rollthem.
So yeah, it depends on thesport.
Absolutely yeah that's awesome.
Sandy (30:24):
I love that.
It's a great way to wrap it upand, like you said, it's a
Really amazing way to keep thatconnection going for the, the
athlete, so they understand thewhole reason behind everything
that they're doing when theycome to participate in something
at your foundation.
I was gonna ask you next aboutsharing a success story, but
before we get to that, can youtell us about the event that's
(30:46):
coming up on Saturday, becauseit's amazing.
Josephine (30:49):
Absolutely.
Thank you for letting me sharethat it's.
It's.
That was that's another storytoo.
We were on the grounds lookingfor a venue to have some land
sports that we, that we actuallyare in, and the general manager
came down of activities andsaid well, you know, we do water
, adaptive water Sports festival.
(31:11):
Would you like to partner?
This is Moody Gardens and youknow everybody had to contain
themselves and so we partnerwith them.
And on this Saturday, septemberthe 30th, from 9 am To 3 pm, is
it?
It's for an athlete ofdifferent abilities, doesn't
(31:31):
matter, and four members oftheir family, and it's free.
You can come in, enjoy PalmBeach and the old Deanne Drabal
where the land Activities willbe adaptive activities.
We have Pickleball.
The greater Houston pickleballwill be there teaching
(31:52):
pickleball, and so will thepickleball Mascot.
He'll be there as well.
But we're gonna have theUniversity of Houston will chair
tennis.
They're going to be there withyouth and adult will chair
tennis and and a ambulatorytennis, standing tennis.
(32:12):
We're going to have beatbaseball for the blind and
visually impaired oh, sandy,it's amazing to watch these
athletes and We'll have archery.
That is, the Texas Parks andWildlife will have one section
of archery and another section,cody Dunn, will have archery,
(32:34):
adaptive archery and then we'regoing to have para air rifle
shooting and that's ball.
High school in Galveston, rotc.
We're so happy but to have them.
And then you're going to haveAdaptive aquatics for skiing,
c-star base for sailing, fishingwith fishing futures, with
(32:57):
Terry Smith, kayaking with TexasSea camp.
I mean just, it's all free andwe just want People to come in
and enjoy them and try them,because you don't know, you know
you may find a sport that youmay love and you know, anything
(33:18):
has been official stressreliever, getting out in the
sunshine with vitamin D.
But you know, it's, it's, it'sthere, it's, it's there.
The mayor is going to be there.
He is so gracious, mayor CraigBrown and his lovely wife Angela
, and I Think it's just going tobe an incredible.
(33:38):
We can't thank Robert Cowley'sand, of course, the general
manager of Moody Gardens, mrJohnson, for the opportunity for
us to be able to bring thesethis, this awareness, right of
hope and inclusion.
That's.
That's really what it's allabout.
Yeah.
Sandy (33:58):
Hope and inclusion.
You know, and I've told thisstory, I think, a few times on
the podcast, when talking toother moms and they bring up
your foundation.
I had seen on Facebook for along time a lot of the my
friends who have their childrenthat were attending adaptive
tennis and I kept thinking, oh,how nice, it must be so fun to
be able to do that.
You know, and I think at onepoint I must have voiced it to
(34:21):
one of the mothers and she saidwell, sign, just sign up.
And I just laughed and I said,oh, no, no, no, they're not
ready for him.
And she's Whoever it was, itwas one of the GH feds.
Mom said you know, this isadaptive tennis, right, like
they will meet him where he's at.
And so I was like, oh, withmuch trepidation, okay, we'll
(34:43):
try, because I'm always willingto try everything, because, like
you said, you never know whatis going to be Something that
clicks, that they really enjoydoing.
So we took them.
I didn't hold out a lot of hopeIn secretly to myself, but you
guys were amazing.
I mean, I think the individualthat was assigned to him right
away Just had an immediateconnection.
(35:03):
Josiah felt that and he felt sowelcomed.
Craig came over and was likeactually playing with him.
You've always done that tooJust really interacted.
You make everybody feel likewe're the only ones there.
Even though the tennis courtsare packed with hundreds of
people, it feels like because ofall the parents and the
students.
You guys just always makeeverybody feel like you're there
for them, and there are timeswhen Josiah is not all about the
(35:27):
sport, but Everybody theremakes each of the individuals
feel like we're here for you andwe want you to have a great
time.
So I can't thank you guys enough.
I've signed him up for almosteverything practically now that
I think he might enjoy.
No, it might be a battle, butover time he's going to come to
love it, I think, as much as allof the other individuals do to
the athletes and the Studentsand all the volunteers, and you
(35:51):
guys are just, I don't knowworld-class.
It's just amazing.
I wish everybody could have theopportunity to participate.
Thank you so much.
Ok, so anyway, thank you formaking us feel like we fit,
because sometimes I don't feellike we do.
You know I do.
Oh, wow.
Anyway, pull up back together,ok, so can you share an example
(36:14):
of a success story with us likea time when your intervention
really made a positivedifference.
Josephine (36:20):
An intervention that made a positive.
I don't know which one to evenstart with.
I'm sure there's many.
I'm looking over at Craig hegoes.
There's so many.
One mom whose daughter really itwas her diagnosis that did not
(36:42):
allow her to be with others, andI was approached by Dr Frioni,
who is amazing at UTMB, andSusie Garrick.
Dr Garrick and asked if wewould just could we try and see
if this is something that shecould do, because behavior-wise
(37:04):
it was just something that youknow in her diagnosis she
couldn't do, and told me all thethings to be aware of and of
course they have to fill out anathlete profile and that was
something that the foundationcame up with to understand the
diagnoses and what to do andwhat not to do and how to handle
(37:25):
situations.
Well, we were waiting for theworst to happen.
We were prepared for that.
That young lady came in with herbuddy it was a teaching kitchen
and I can still see it in mymind and her mom crying out in
the area because we had them inthe little kitchen part, because
(37:48):
she had taken to her buddy andshe was actually chopping with
the knife and she was blendingwith the mixing bowl and the
mixer had the most beautifulsmile, so that to us was look,
and she was around all the otherathletes and buddies in the
(38:09):
kitchen, so that in itself wasjust.
That was incredible To be ableto be a part of that, and they
came and have been coming toever since.
Sandy (38:23):
Incredible.
So her diagnosis kind ofprohibited that type of activity
.
But you guys just provide sucha loving, amazing experience.
Josephine (38:34):
I think it was the parents, one last hope.
And then at the bowling becauseof course we do adapt to
bowling too she had herentourage, a family behind her,
yelling and screaming andcheering her on, which was
really quite exciting.
So I didn't know that they knewthat the foundation had made
(38:54):
that change, that loving change.
I think that's what keeps usgoing, Sandy, yeah.
Sandy (39:01):
Oh yeah, we're so blessed to live in this area because I
feel like there's so muchavailable to our individuals
that have differing needs.
But what advice do you have forparents in regards to seeking
adaptive exercise for theirchild, who maybe don't live near
us and are excited to learnthat these are options available
(39:21):
to them?
They might have to seek themout.
Are there other things likethis in other states that you're
aware of?
Josephine (39:27):
Not that I'm aware of , but I think the school
district can help quite a bit toguide them and to have things
on your website say contact us,because of 4.45 this morning.
I received last night and Isaid I'm getting up and I'm
(39:49):
going to answer this mom.
It came in on contact us.
So if they have that anywhere,go to the school district first.
Please let them help you.
But I answered her she's hereat Shriners Hospital for
intensive PTOT and speech.
She goes, but my daughter'sfinished at 1 o'clock.
What activities are availablehere on Galveston Island?
(40:12):
And I told her about Bacchijust now starting and of course,
the event on Saturday.
So I think it's that part oftechnology I absolutely love.
We can go, seek it Back in theday.
That was the daunting part wasyou go and you find.
(40:33):
But this way parents have thatopportunity.
I would so start with my schooldistrict and ask them to please
give some kind of guidance andthen PDA things of that nature
look up adaptive programs in myarea.
(40:54):
I think the world is coming tolove and accept.
We have a long way to go andwe're getting there, but we've
got our foot in the door andwe're not taking it out.
Sandy (41:10):
I imagine it isn't inexpensive to run this type of
foundation.
How can the community bestsupport you guys with the
amazing work that you do?
Josephine (41:21):
That I appreciate.
All our programs are at no costand free of charge because we
have been there and done thatand we know we have, up until
the end of the year, afundraiser and we're trying to
raise the funds for the athletesto be able to come to the
(41:45):
programs for no cost.
So actually just go to ourwebsite and we'll put the link
in that voice in the backgroundChristinaSalvinfoundationcom and
it'll say how to donate.
And it's to give Andorg, did Isaycom?
Ok, yeah, yeahorg.
Sandy (42:08):
Yeah, I mean that's just amazing, that the level of the
quality of what you provide forthe athletes is just amazing.
But the fact that it's all freeof charge to families and talk
about the students, becausethese are students from UTMB
that are volunteering their timethe amount of time that is
(42:29):
volunteered on their part, yes,and I will tell you this.
Josephine (42:34):
Yes, it is a volunteer type program right now
, but they have embraced thisprogram to where we have three
five-year contracts with theSchool of Medicine, the School
of Nursing and the School ofHealth Professions and we have a
two-year contract with Capstonestudents who do their
(42:55):
dissertations and projects.
We are now collecting data andanalysis and we hope that within
a year that this will be anaccredited program for the
students to have credit hours,because we have evolved the
(43:15):
program.
We have parents cornered let'stalk about it and the students
are bringing in resources forfamilies.
We have six major topics andthen we have, of course, the
adaptive sport.
We have motor moves that aremonocomuscle.
She doesn't know aboutmonocomuscle.
She's telling you and teachingyou about all the muscles and,
(43:37):
in motor moves, fitbits andkeeping them healthy.
And then we have let us talknutrition, head of let us, with
eyes that make you smile andteaching them nutrition.
So, with the UTMB studentsbeing a part of all the aspects
of the program, we're working onthat and I am prayerful within
(44:01):
a year that it could actually be.
We've gone through the process,we know what it takes, we have
UTMB faculty assisting andthat's what we're working
towards.
Sandy (44:13):
Yeah, that's phenomenal that they can get credit for all
that they do with this.
That's just beautiful.
I love it.
Yeah, we're working on.
I'm sure it's a lengthy process, but that's awesome.
What's the best way for someoneto get in touch with you if
they wanted to, you know, findout more or volunteer to help if
there's something thatsomebody's interested in doing?
Josephine (44:35):
Info at Christina Sullivan Foundationorg.
Okay.
That's how that mom did it andI'm sure I'm going to see her on
Tuesday.
Yeah, I'm pretty sure she'sgoing to be there with her
daughter, which would be great.
Sandy (44:50):
Yes.
One last thing, because it'sright behind you.
I want you to talk to us aboutwhat you have in your new office
.
Josephine (44:58):
Okay, Well, it's called Nina's Cafe and that was
Christina's headboard and I justcouldn't part with it because
on the sides there's threeshelves on one side and three on
the other.
We would have her suctionmachine, feeding machine, all
kinds of machines and diapersand chucks and G2 materials and
(45:23):
things of that nature, but nowit holds cookie jars and books
and we turned it into a littlecoffee bar and put a
refrigerator in it and it's justpart of her that all of our
volunteers and athletes canenjoy.
I love it.
Sandy (45:44):
It's beautiful.
I will put a picture of that uptoo, because that's so cute.
That was such an ingenious ideato take something that was a
part of her everyday life andincorporate it into what you're
in she's continuing to do now.
Amazing, just beautiful.
Well, it has been such apleasure to have you on.
I think that what you and Craigare doing is phenomenal.
(46:05):
The gift that you're giving andNina and Christian, the gift
that you're giving thiscommunity and it's not just the
Galveston community, it'sspreading through so many areas
is just unsurpassed.
You give so many and it's inyour mission statement.
You give so many of us hope,and that's beautiful.
(46:25):
Thank you so much for beinghere and for continuing to do
what you do.
I'm excited to see all that theChristina Sennlund Foundation
has going forward, because Iknow it's going to continue to
grow and just get even moreamazing.
Thank you for you.
Yeah we love you guys.
Thank you so much Love you.
Thank you.
Thanks for listening to theEmbrace the Blessing podcast.
(46:47):
Visit embracetheblessingcomslash podcast for show notes and
links to any resourcesmentioned.
If this has been beneficial toyou, please share it with a
friend or post it on your socialmedia pages.
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