Former daycare assistant gets dream wish

 CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. ― Stephanie Dillard, 49, got her wish to be surrounded once again by her favorite kind of people – little children from 6 weeks to 6 years old.

A daycare assistant before suffering a debilitating stroke more than eight years ago, Ms. Dillard cared for numerous small children each day. She spent her time patiently teaching, helping, correcting, and caring for the needs of the children in her charge. Now a resident of St. Barnabas, Ms. Dillard was asked by St. Barnabas staff if she had a special wish. Ms. Dillard expressed a desire to spend some time with a group of young children. She was ecstatic when Siskin Children’s Institute extended the invitation through the St. Barnabas DreamMakers program. St. Barnabas staff said Ms. Dillard was so excited with the news she couldn’t eat.

“This is very special to me because before I used to keep a lot of children,” said Ms. Dillard. “I think I just love children. I know I miss being around them.”

Ms. Dillard spent the morning with children of all abilities in the Early Learning Center of Siskin Children’s Institute, participating in the children’s normal routine: doing craft activities, reading books, and playing on the playground. The children surprised Ms. Dillard with a hand-made card they’d prepared in anticipation of her visit.

“The children enjoyed having Ms. Dillard as a companion for the day,” said Director of the Early Learning Center-Downtown Gayle Coleman. “Her love for children was apparent as she wholeheartedly participated in an impromptu tea party and patiently made countless trips around the playground in her wheelchair during a game of Follow the Leader. Her warm smile brightened our day.”

The fulfillment of Ms. Dillard’s wish was made possible through the St. Barnabas DreamMakers program and the generosity of community partner Siskin Children’s Institute. DreamMakers, similar to the “Make-a-Wish” program for children, has as its mission to “fulfill the dormant wishes of our residents to the best of our ability,” according to St. Barnabas Quality of Life Program Director Carrie Ezell. Since its beginning in January, the St. Barnabas DreamMakers program has fulfilled the wishes of six residents.

                St. Barnabas is Chattanooga’s only independent, not-for-profit continuing care retirement community, offering rehabilitation, assisted living, long-term care, and independent retirement apartments since 1965. For more information, visit www.st-barnabas.com.

Siskin Children's Institute makes life better for children with special needs and their families. Founded in 1950, the non-profit organization achieves its mission locally and nationally through four initiatives: education, outreach, health care and research. The Institute provides early childhood education where children with and without disabilities learn together; family support and professional development programs; developmental behavioral pediatric health care; and innovative research in early childhood development and special education. For more information about Siskin Children's Institute, visit www.siskin.org.