Alumni Adventures
with Elle McCullough
By: Jennie McCullough
P
salm 139: 14 -
“I will praise You because I
am fearfully and
wonderfully made.”
This verse immediately came to my
mind when the staff at the Little Light
House asked me to pick one for my
daughter, Elle McCullough, when she
started school in 2011. I remind Elle
almost every day
that she is special
and wonderful
and perfect -
even though she
doesn’t walk or
look or think like
others her age.
Since Elle graduated in 2013, it has
been tough. We would have stayed
forever had they let us! But we
FINALLY found a wonderful school for
her in Town & Country. It took many
tries to find a place where she would
thrive. Lots of tears were shed, many
tests were taken and many heartbreaks
and setbacks occurred. But finally she
has begun to read and spell - and is
even doing some
drama at her
new school!
“Places like
LLH remind us
we can do it -
and that we are
WONDERFULLY
MADE!”
We are so grate-
ful. Last summer
Elle had her
second open
heart
surgery and is
The Little Light
doing better -
House was
she is energetic
just as much a
and even sassier
life-changer for
(if that’s even
Elle as it was
possible)! She’s
for me and my
been through
husband. We saw
seven
heart
catheterizations,
hours
others dealing with the
and hours of physical therapy, speech
struggles and heartache and found
comfort in other parents and staff. Elle therapy, doctor after doctor - but I am
could not walk or crawl when we began amazed at her progress... And it all
started at the Little Light House.
at LLH - and she WALKED out of
graduation! She was more confident,
We will forever be grateful for this place
had begun to write and was enjoying
of safety and comfort and strength. And
being around others!
may we always remember we ALL are
Elle was born with two congenital heart wonderfully made!
defects (Tetralogy of Fallot and
- Elle and the McCullough family
Pulimnary Atresia), Scoliosis, a neck
(Leonard,
Jennie, Ian and Caleb).
problem and some brain damage from
loss of oxygen. It has been a long road
and will continue to be... but places like
the LLH remind us we can do it - and
that we are WONDERFULLY MADE!
8 8 | THE
THE BEACON
BEACON