Season for Caring: Meet the Patterson Davis Family
Category: Client Story
December 10, 2024
Photo credit: Aaron E. Martinez/American-Statesman
A Path Forward for Nakari
Jalayah, Nathan and Nakari are the Patterson Davis family. They are a young family with big dreams and excellent work ethic. They live in a two-bedroom apartment complex in Austin. When we visited them in August, their air conditioning was out so one-year-old Nakari was outside with his grandma Marissa.
Jalayah works full time and plans to complete her Medical Assistant license to further her education in the health care field. She was connected to Any Baby Can’s Nurse-Family Partnership program when she found out she was pregnant. Nathan is attending TWA College while working evenings. He’s on the TWA football team and an is avid basketball player. Nathan dreams of becoming an engineer and a coach. Like many dads, he also dreams of watching his son grow up to play sports. That may not be as simple as it sounds.
Facing Challenges with Vision and Development
When he was just seven months old, Nakari was diagnosed with a rare brain condition affecting his optic nerves, septum and pituitary gland (called Septo Optic Nerve Dysplasia or SOD). Nakari’s symptoms include significant loss of eyesight in both eyes or potential blindness, abnormal eye movements, weight gain, and muscle weakness. Sadly, SOD is not curable.
Nakari will need a variety of treatments, including hormonal replacement therapy, vision therapy, and physical and occupational therapy. He will need accomodations for the rest of his life and will most likely require services within the community from the Texas School for the Blind and Visually Impaired, and other resources.
An Any Baby Can nurse has been by their side from the start. She got them connected to our Early Childhood Intervention program where Nakari receives in-home physical and occupational therapy.
Full Circle
Jalayah’s mother Marissa was a client with Any Baby Can around 2004 and has good memories of the care she received. Jalayah feels it has come full circle for her and Nakari to be with Any Baby Can.
“Since meeting Jalayah and Nathan, I have been struck by how they are handling Nakari’s complex and rare medical condition—with grace, humor and a discipline that belies their age. What is clear is that they are dedicated not just to his physical well-being and ensuring that he has the skills to thrive, but they are also dedicated to their family relationship and being the best parents they can be,” reflects their Any Baby Can nurse Hannah.
Nakari loves cheering on his dad at college football games! Let’s make sure he can grow up to play sports and have a rewarding life too. Achieving this goal for Nakari will involve much intervention and community support. The biggest needs for the family are medical expenses, transportation (they don’t own a car) and childcare. As the family continues to be on the waitlist for childcare, they’ve turned to their family for help to ensure they can continue to work and provide for their son.
How You Can Help
Fulfilling this family’s needs will help them achieve their goals and help Nakari overcome challenges in his development. Support this amazing family and Any Baby Can by considering a gift to Season for Caring (Select “Any Baby Can, Patterson Davis family”). This year Brian and Adria Sheth have pledged to match donations to Any Baby Can through Season for caring up to $500,000! Donate before December 25, 2024 to have your donation doubled.
Purchase directly from the family’s Amazon wish list: https://www.amazon.com/baby-reg/thepattersonfamily-family-february-2025-austin/1STOM18KP9SLJ.
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