Happy 23rd Birthday, Skyler
What a year it’s been.
Just one year ago, you were facing one of the hardest transitions of your life — aging out of your autism center, leaving behind everything familiar, and stepping into months of uncertainty, with no programs, no routine, and very little connection to the world outside our home.
And then… everything changed.
We took a leap of faith and moved across the country to Colorado, holding onto hope — hope for a fresh start, for new opportunities, for a life that could feel bigger and more connected for you.
And you met that moment with more strength than most people will ever understand.
Even after a serious knee injury, surgery, and weeks in a cast — challenges that could have dimmed anyone’s spirit — your light never went out. In fact, somewhere along the way… your smile came back. And with it, a sense of peace and joy we had been missing.
Today, you are thriving in a 4-day-a-week program, building connections in your community, and continuing to show us — in your own way — just how much is possible.
Skyler, I am so incredibly proud of you.
Proud of your resilience.
Proud of your strength.
Proud of the man you’ve become.
Your journey has never been easy, but it has always been meaningful. And it has changed me in all the best ways.
You may not use words, but you have always had a voice — and it speaks in courage, perseverance, and unconditional love.
I am so grateful I get to be your mom.
Happy Birthday, my sweet boy.
