Return on Investment, 20 Years in the Making
November 4, 2025
The phone call came out of the blue, two decades after their last in-home visit. Miummie called Any Baby Can just to say "thank you" and to share an amazing update.
"I just thought about y'all all the time. You did so much for us, and I was so proud of my kids. I had to call and tell you!" Says Miummie.
Their story is a powerful testament to the enduring value of Any Baby Can's services, and how supporting kids and their caregivers makes a lasting impact on individual families and the entire community.
Moving Mountains
“You have been assigned this mountain so that you can show others it can be moved.” ― Mel Robbins
A determined, clear-headed woman, Miummie says she resonates with this quote, confident that she was given this mountain, simply to show that it could be moved.
Twenty years ago, Miummie was raising her own five kids in Austin. Life was a mix of love, hard work and big challenges. In 2002 her grandson Dea'Shawn was placed in her custody. That’s when Any Baby Can stepped in.
The family’s journey with Any Baby Can began with a call from Child Protective Services and a crucial connection to the ECI program. Miummie's first grandson, Dea'Shawn, was born a tiny preemie, weighing just one pound and significantly delayed. He had health problems, couldn't speak, and he didn't start walking until he was almost five.
Miummie had a gift for translating Dea'Shawn's yells of frustration into meaning, but she needed professional help. She enrolled him in speech therapy, physical therapy, occupational therapy and specialized skills training through Any Baby Can. All of which came to her house and worked around her schedule.
“There were so many people in my house! They descended upon us and provided everything we needed,” Miummie reflects.
More Than Therapy
Any Baby Can's ECI program meets families exactly where they are. The therapists came right to their home, bringing essential services to Dea'Shawn. With the parent coaching model, Miummie learned how to turn everyday routines into opportunities for growth.
The progress was remarkable. The specialists had Dea'Shawn walking, going up and down stairs, and moving around the complex.
They didn't just provide therapy; they were Miummie's "eyes and ears," connecting her to doctors, food banks, and other resources. She never forgot the extra mile the ECI team went for her family.
“They brought food and clothing; they remembered their birthdays. Christmas was amazing! They bought him a jacket and jeans and even a decorated tree in my living room. Any Baby Can made sure we never lacked for anything," says Miummie.
When Miummie took custody of another two grandchildren—Dea'Shawn’s brother Dequinton and sister De’nya—within the next three years, they all enrolled in ECI.
Thriving Beyond Expectations
When families are supported, children thrive despite difficult circumstances. Miummie faced ongoing challenges, including Dea'Shawn's struggles with asthma and ADHD and his siblings’ growth and development. She fought for her grandkids, eventually moving all three to a local charter school for a smaller, more supportive class setting.
Now, two decades after those first home visits, Miummie's investment has paid off in big ways. Dea'Shawn recently graduated with his Bachelors in Kinesiology and Exercise Science from Huston-Tillotson University. Dequinton is following close behind and will graduate from Huston-Tillotson University in 2026. Their little sister just graduated from high school and is attending Austin Community College. They’re a close-knit, loving family who support one another through everything.
A Full Circle Dream
Dea'Shawn’s own experience with Any Baby Can didn’t just change his development—it inspired his life's direction.
"As I learned about all the support I had early on and what a big impact those people had on me, I want to pay that forward,” says Dea'Shawn.
Today, Dea'Shawn is planning his future. He hopes to pursue a Master’s in Education with a focus on Special Education. His goal is to help kids with developmental issues. He wants them to be seen and thrive, no matter what they're facing. His dream? One day he would love to work with Any Baby Can and help kids just like him—full circle!
"It gave me a sense of inspiration to see what I can do to impact the next generation," shares Dea'Shawn.
Dequinton has a similar path. He’s studying kinesiology, along with math and history, in hopes of becoming a high school teacher and coach. He’s also active in Sigma Phi Epsilon Fraternity Incorporated, leading their community service efforts. De’nya is doing well in college and is interested in pursuing physical therapy.
Return on Investment
Miummie didn’t give up, even when it was hard. She put in the time, effort and dedication, and Any Baby Can helped make it possible. Her family’s success is an illustration of the power of early intervention. Working with young kids is an investment in the future; a hope that things will get better.
Dea'Shawn’s journey from a one-pound premature baby to a college graduate dedicated to helping other children is not a miracle—it's the direct result of investing in families. It happened not once, but three times in their family.
And it happens in families all around Austin when parents are supported and kids receive early intervention services. Thriving kids make thriving families, and thriving families make our community a better place!
Hear directly from the family about what your support means!
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