Personal Care Assistant Supports Boy With Dias-Logan Syndrome: Hunter's Story - Accra Homecare

Kari Andrews shares the incredible & heartwarming story of adopting her son, Hunter, who was diagnosed with the rare Dias-Logan Syndrome. From their beginnings through foster care to the life-changing support of Accra’s PCA Services, Hunter’s story is one of resilience, joy, and family love. 🌟
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Hunter is a vibrant 10-year-old with a passion for Legos, construction, and the outdoors. Despite his developmental challenges due to Dias-Logan Syndrome, his spirit shines bright. Kari explains how Accra’s personalized care plan and dedicated Personal Care Assistant (PCA) have been a game changer for their family, giving them the support needed to thrive. 🐸🐛✨
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Transcript:
Hunter's Adoption & Background 0:00
Kari: Hi, my name is Kari Andrews. I'm the responsible party and parent for my son, Hunter Andrews, that receives services here through Accra. Hunter joined our family when he was 10 months old through foster care, and then he ended up not ever leaving. We were able to adopt him a year and a half later.
Hunter's just this great kid. Loves playing with Legos and he loves construction and he loves being outside.
PCA [to Hunter]: I think he likes you better.
Kari: He has found three frogs this week and just is in his glory because he just will play with these frogs. And he names them, and he creates a little storyline about their family and whatever it is.
Dias-Logan Syndrome Diagnosis & Neuropsychology Test 0:39
Kari: He has a genetic condition called Dias-Logan Syndrome and it's very rare. When he was diagnosed, there were about 30 people worldwide in published studies and then they've quickly learned more and more have it, as well. Hunter's ten and he'll still always be in that kind of toddler stage. He's grown and he's progressed and things are good but he'll always be half his age or less.
We ended up doing a neuropsychology test. A neuropsychologist was able to summarize all sorts of great things about Hunter, do quite a bit of testing, but she said, "You need to go home right away today, call your county and get an assessment for PCA services." She said, "I've had over 20 years of experience and in my experience, families with situations like yours won't survive unless they get some help." And that was just an eye-opening conversation. Honestly, like the weight off my shoulders was just lifted in a huge way.
Importance of PCA Services 1:47
Kari: Before we had a PCA in place, I felt like it was just surviving the next few hours. Accra does such a great job of helping make sure that all the employment things, the application stuff, the payroll, all of that is taken care of. I get to help pick the person who will spend all this time with Hunter.
We learned we needed to ask a specific question for our interviews with them. Do like bugs? Are you okay with having bugs be close by? And then, do you like to read?
PCA [to Hunter]: I hope I get to meet Robbie Rat.
Kari: Hunter just would sit and listen to books for hours and hours and hours and hours.
PCA [to Hunter]: I have bad news, kids.
Accra's Support & Care Plan 2:28
Kari: I am so thankful for what Accra does for us. They still meet with us a couple times a year. We set up a care plan together, figure out what are the things that a PCA could do to help benefit Hunter's life. It really is a personal care assistant. Accra helps really tailor that for each person. Accra has just been a huge blessing.
#FosterCare #adoptionjourney #PCAServices #AccraHomecare #DiasLoganSyndrome