“The Unexpected Path That Became Everything”

Written by: mejo

At mejo, we believe stories are powerful. They remind us that behind every diagnosis is a family doing their best to show up, love well, and keep going especially on the hard days.

We’re honored to share Christi’s story, a mother of seven, including three incredible boys with disabilities whose lives have shaped her family in ways they never could have imagined.

From Unexpected Diagnosis to Intentional Adoption

Christi and her husband were already parents to four children when their son Ian was born with Down syndrome.

“While unexpected, he was just a typical younger brother trying to keep up with his siblings and enjoying the fun,” Christi recalls.

But at age three, Ian began to regress. He was eventually diagnosed with Lennox-Gastaut syndrome (LGS), a severe form of epilepsy. Around that same time, Christi and her husband felt called to adopt and this new world of medical complexity deeply shaped that decision.

“We decided to specifically pursue adoption of children with disabilities,” she says. “Ian’s life completely altered the course of our family, leading us to adopt Isaac and Charlie.”

Now, the youngest three boys in their family are:

• Ian (15) – Down syndrome and LGS

• Isaac (10) – Angelman syndrome and epilepsy

• Charlie (8) – Down syndrome and autism

The Emotional Terrain of Parenting Kids with Rare and Complex Needs

“The day to day is all of it,” Christi says. “Hard + fun. Discouraging + encouraging. Happy + sad. Exhausting + exhilarating.”

Christi and her husband have navigated both the pain of receiving a devastating diagnosis and the beauty of choosing this life again through adoption. That decision hasn’t always made sense to people around them.

“Many don’t understand why we would choose this. We often feel isolated. On one hand, we don’t expect people to accommodate us… but then we feel excluded. It’s a mixed bag of emotions.”

Despite the challenges, Christi has found her tribe—especially in her church, the local hospital team, and a small but mighty group of fellow rare moms.

“We’ve met some amazing people that we wouldn’t know if we weren’t part of the rare disease communities. We love seeing the world through the eyes of our boys—truly in the moment, loving life.”

There’s No Such Thing as a “Typical” Day

“As soon as I think I have a routine, something changes!” Christi laughs.

With Charlie and Isaac in public school, Christi stays home with Ian—carefully balancing care tasks, therapies, IEP planning, and managing the needs of seven kids.

“I spend too much time on the computer and phone making sure all is in order. It’s paying attention to detail and keeping good notes.”

How mejo Helps

With a household of nine—including a dog—Christi needed a way to stay organized that didn’t live in her head. That’s where mejo premium came in.

“We all have a mejo tab—even the dog!” 

What she uses most:

• Centralized profiles for each child (and pet!) with meds, provider info, and care notes

• Document storage for IEPs, family medical histories (including from biological families), and records

• Custom trackers for seizures, cyclic vomiting, lab visits, and feeding changes

• Printable journal logs she can hand off to new providers

“Being able to print the journal and hand it to a new provider—that’s my favorite feature.”

When the Crisis Hits, mejo Shows Up

In December 2024, Ian went into septic shock. He was intubated and sedated for seven weeks in the ICU, followed by multiple hospital stays and lingering complications.

“All of those trips, dates, meds, feeding changes were a blur in my mind. mejo became the place where I could document each visit with a few notes and know I wouldn’t forget.”

A Final Word to Other Families

“We believe all people are made in God’s image. And our children know how to love deeply. We love being part of their story.”

Christi’s family has walked a path filled with uncertainty—but also filled with purpose, connection, and an unshakable sense of joy.

“My husband and I are stronger in our marriage. The friendships I’ve made with other moms are deep and strong. We laugh hard. We cry. But we wouldn’t trade it.”

From all of us at mejo

To Christi and every caregiver showing up every day:We see you. We support you. And we’re honored to be a small part of your journey.

Want to share your story? Email us at contact@mymejo.com. We’d love to hear from you.

About the Organizations Supporting Christi’s Journey

Angelman Syndrome FoundationChristi is part of the Angelman Syndrome Foundation—a global network supporting families affected by Angelman syndrome.

Learn more at angelman.org.

Lennox-Gastaut Syndrome (LGS) FoundationLGS is a severe childhood-onset epilepsy characterized by multiple types of seizures and developmental challenges. The LGS Foundation is dedicated to improving the lives of individuals living with LGS through research, education, and support.

Visit lgsfoundation.org to learn more.