2024 Holiday Giving

 In the 2024 holiday season, Jamie’s Smiles is raising funds to adopt families of children with special needs through the Macomb Infant Preschool Program (MIPP).  This is the Bates family’s 28th year of adopting families with our family and friends and our 20th year adopting families through the Macomb Infant Preschool Program (MIPP). We have decided to "completely adopt" one family this year:

Avalynn's Family

We are adopting Avalynn, (18 months), her unborn sister, Mom (33), and Dad (35). This year the Mom shared their journey very eloquently, so we bring you excerpts from Ayla, Avalynn's Mom herself:

"My life changed at my 33 week ultrasound when the doctor noticed that Avalynn had a case of ventriculomegaly. Which means one of her ventricles in her brain was enlarged....once she was born....she was falling behind in milestones.

At nine months we got a genetic test done and that's when we found out she had this rare metabolic condition called PDCD [*See information below]. We started doing the keto diet which is the main treatment for this condition. Once she was on the diet and in ketosis, she started doing new things.

Then shortly after she was diagnosed with infantile spasms. So we are  managing that and continue with her 3:1 ratio keto diet. A diet she will be on for the rest of her life.

She is now a year and a half and thriving at her own pace. She's in all sorts of therapies and making strides daily. I can't wait to see what she accomplishes in the years to come. This is definitely not the life I expected but I know God has hand picked me to be her mama.

And now we are expecting another baby in April 2025. We definitely did not plan this because Avalynn herself is a lot. But again, God entrusted me with these blessings and we will figure this thing out called life."

Jamie had Infantile Seizures. According to Nemours KidsHealth, "Infantile spasms is a rare but serious type of epilepsy. It's associated with a unique, very abnormal brain wave pattern that can cause serious harm to a young, developing brain. This seizure type can happen during the first 2 years of life, most commonly between 5–7 months of age." The death rate for this seizure disorder has declined to five percent, but can cause catastrophic related developmental and health issues.

Dad works full-time delivering spices for a family owned company to support his family.  Mom stays home full-time to take care of Avalynn who attends the Stilson Center for therapy services.

Additional Needs

We have also had several other families reach out through MIPP with larger items needs like car seats, high chairs, car seats, cribs, crib mattresses, pack and plays, learning toys, beddings, etc. We will provide these items to additional families as we are able based on our funding this year. 

Can You Help?

Whether you can donate $5 or $1,000 or more, we will put it to the best use we can and the value that our combined funds and efforts can have to others who are struggling is tremendous. We pool all of the funds and meet as many of the needs of local families as possible.

We have vendors that give us discounts or support and contribute yearly because they care. If we have more money than we need for this deserving family, we will provide food and clothing gift cards, and large items like car seats to additional families, as there are many others in need and still more coming forward to ask for assistance. Last year we were able to help more than 54 additional families with food gift cards alone.

Contributions can be made through PayPal or Via Check!

Contributions via PayPal can be made by clicking the link below.

To send a check, please make it out to "Four County Community Foundation - Jamie's Smiles (Christmas)" and PLEASE NOTE that they have moved to 141 South Main Street, Romeo MI 48065. 

Thank your for time, consideration and generosity,

The Bates Family & Jamie’s Smiles

If you can help, please click the button below!