Take a moment to experience the Larsons' world and better understand why Jill's House is so important to them.

A hard-working dad, a PTA-soccer mom, three kids and a baby in tow, the Larsons thrived in the thick of family life and parenthood. They were a typical, busy, northern Virginia family. Fun was an essential ingredient in their day-to-day lives, and they looked forward to all they hoped the future held. All this changed when their four-month-old son, Bridger, missed several developmental milestones.

The love Bridger's siblings have for him is anything but typical.

Special families call it the "diagnosis year". It's a year of doctor appointments, testing, therapy and endless hours in the hospital. It's the year your life falls apart as you search tirelessly for the reason your child can't lift his head or roll over.

After Bridger's diagnosis year, his mom, Cindy, received a call from his geneticist. He told her that Bridger's condition would result in physical and mental disabilities, that he'd never walk, talk, eat on his own or take care of himself. "I had no words when he finished talking," said Cindy. "I just stood there in our den with the phone in my hand. My world was spinning, and I was totally stunned." After the geneticist hung up, Cindy called her husband, Alan, and delivered the life-changing news.

Alan and Cindy share the weight of parenting so their kids know only joy on their journey together.

Bridger has an extremely rare condition called congenital disorder of glycosylation type 1A. It's so rare that it's difficult for doctors to describe what Bridger will be like as he grows up. "That's been one of the hardest parts of this diagnosis," shared Cindy. "Every person holds some idea of what their future life might be like. But Bridger's diagnosis forced us to give that up. We can't anticipate the future, so we try to live one day at a time--a practice that's been helpful on this journey together."

Now nine years old, Bridger lives with a host of symptoms of his condition. He has seizures, poor vision, behavioral issues, an irregular sleep pattern and a quick gag-reflex. He's not non-verbal as his doctors predicted, but his ability to communicate with words is very limited. He has autistic tendencies and struggles with sensory integration. He uses a wheelchair, eats through a feeding tube and needs constant supervision. "Bridger gives us empathy for all children and families with special needs," said Cindy. "From physical to intellectual disability, we understand the challenges."

Cindy first heard about Jill's House at a committee meeting for moms raising children with special needs. At the meeting, Dana Hecht, Jill's House director of Family Relations, explained the Jill's House model of respite, and Cindy immediately scheduled Bridger's first weekend stay. "I barely slept at all that first night Bridger was at Jill's House," said Cindy. "All night I had one eye on my phone, waiting for the text that something had gone wrong, but it never came." Read more.

Back to top.