In 2021, I was forced to face a stark reality: my infant daughter had a complex genetic disorder with several health problems and risk factors that made every day both a struggle and a miracle.
For months, I struggled to navigate the complex medical, and educational systems available to me, trying desperately to manage all of her appointments, therapies and tests, as well as the lives of her siblings and myself. I felt constantly anxious, frustrated and afraid in a way that I couldn’t explain to others around me. I knew that I needed help, but had no idea where to find it.
One day, while expressing my frustrations to my daughter’s wonderful early intervention provider, I was told about a group that provided specialized services to families like mine.The organization was Brades’ Place, and after looking at the website, I made an appointment for a home visit. A woman named Becky Oakley came to my home and told me her story about her son Brade who inspired her to start the organization in his honor.
I will never forget the compassion in her eyes as she listened to my story and showed that she understood what I was going through. She knew what it felt like to experience anxiety and loneliness, and she let me know that she was there to help my daughter and our family in any way that she could.
I remember crying as she told me that I was doing an excellent job holding myself and my family together and that my daughter was lucky to have me. I am also lucky to have Becky and our lives are blessed by the existence of Brades’ Place Home and Community Based Palliative Care.
Brades’ Place offers palliative care services throughout Utah. They also work with local organizations to create a welcoming space for the families of medically complex individuals to meet and grow together, creating a priceless social network. Monthly family nights, parent nights, and sibling nights are wonderful opportunities for families to get together and share their common experiences in a safe space.
Recently, Brade’s Place was able to acquire a facility to offer respite care with well trained staff and medical professionals to care for patients and their siblings. They have what’s called, The Village and The Cottage, and there are several amenities including a sensory hallway filled with interactive activities, sling swings, ball pits, and a library for those who visit. If an individual has a specific need, Brades’ Place will do their best to accommodate it and incorporate it into their facility.
“It really takes a village as they say.” Oakley said of her organization and facility. “We really want to create that for these individuals and families that are too often invisible in our communities. With The Village and The Cottage, we feel like we’re giving these families something that they’ve needed for a long time. We wanted to create a place where parents and caregivers could leave their child and know that they are not just well taken care of, but having fun – so there is no guilt for them.”
Perhaps you just need an hour to run to the store without tag-alongs, or a few nights to recover from a medical procedure without needing to be a caregiver. Brades’ Place fills the gaps that medically complex families tend to try to fill themselves. This is a wonderful place for kids to go and enjoy themselves in a safe place while their parents or caregivers are able to take a well deserved or even necessary break.
I am thrilled for Brades’ Place Village in Utah County. Having a respite facility so close is an absolute game changer. The services offered are absolutely priceless assets for our community. If you are looking for support with your medically complex loved one, please reach out to Brade’s Place. If you’d like to donate or learn more, go to www.bradesplace.org, call 801-210-5437 or stop by at 247 100 E, Orem, UT 84057.
