Meet Jesus
Jesus is a cheerful, loving, sweet two-year-old from Houston, Texas, where he lives with his parents, Jen and Aaron, and six siblings. Jesus loves being outdoors, going on car rides, and getting snuggles from his loved ones.
This month’s “Joy is where you are” t-shirt design is inspired by Jesus’ story.
We invite you to watch his video, read his story and subscribe to our podcast to listen to a couple conversations with his mom and dad.
For six years, Jen and Aaron opened up their home to many children through fostering. One day, the couple was notified by a friend who’s church received a letter from a CASA worker inquiring about a forever home that would want to adopt a baby with medical needs. At the time, Jen and Aaron did not have an opening. Jen shares, “He was always in the back of my mind. We were fostering a little girl for three years at that time, who not soon after, ended up being reunited with her biological father.”
After some time had passed, Jen reached out to the CASA worker and asked if the child had been placed in the home–he had not.
Reflecting on that time, Jen openly shares, “We had reservations at first because taking on a child with medical needs is a big thing, and we were not just going to be fostering him, we were committed to adoption because he was already in a foster home. They were looking for a forever home for him. We had a minimal understanding of his needs. We knew he was born with schizencephaly, but to this day, nobody really knows what will happen in the future.”
Seven-month old Jesus eventually joined Jen and Aaron’s home and gained six siblings who love on him with open arms. For the next year, Jen and Aaron went through a lengthy legal adoption process which ended in November of 2021. He was now 2 years old.
Jen explains that there are different degrees of schizencephaly. In Jesus’ case, he is missing a majority of his frontal lobe. Having low vision is just one of the ways this impacts Jesus’ life.
During those first couple of months after his adoption, Jesus was also given the diagnosis of epilepsy, infantile spasms, and cerebral palsy to accompany the schizencephaly.
“It’s hard to know what he understands, sees and processes. He recognizes voices and smiles. A lot of the things he does are not expected. He is not a vegetable by any means and that was the prognosis that was given to him.”
Jesus gets physical therapy once a week and occupational therapy twice a week. They work on head control, stretching out his muscles, and tracking different toys when it comes to sound. They work with him on his stomach a lot. He has neuromuscular scoliosis that has progressed since his last 3-week hospital stay for respiratory failure in May 2021.
Jesus is lovingly described as a cheerful and sweet 2-year-old who loves to be snuggled and pampered.
Jen dotes on Jesus, “He 110% loves to be held all day long. It’s the sweetest thing. We will lay him down, and his eyes pop open and he starts to look around. Once we pick him up, he’ll start laughing, because he knows. He continues to change the longer he’s been in our home, and I can only pray that as he gets older, he continues to show his preferences about stuff because that was something that was never expected of him. His opinion matters, it matters to all of us. I make sure that it matters to anyone we come into contact with because he needs to be respected like all people should. Whether he can voice it or not, he has preferences.”
Time to get loud shouters!
Throughout the month of August we will be shouting loud for Jesus!
So click here to shop now where every purchase in August will go towards making modifications to the family’s van to make travel easier and more comfortable for Jesus.
To help support kiddos like Jesus every month, click here to start a monthly subscription.
ADULT SHIRTS
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Shout Loud – Adult Tee
$34.99 – $37.99 Select options -
Monthly Shirt Subscription – Adult
From: $31.99 / month Select options -
Bloom Where You Are Planted – Adult Tee
$34.99 – $37.99 Select options -
Celebrate the Good Days – Adult Tee
$34.99 Select options -
Bravery Knows No Size – Adult Tee
$34.99 Select options -
Roads Worth Choosing – Adult Tee
$34.99 – $37.99 Select options -
Every Breath, A Gift – Adult Tee
$34.99 – $37.99 Select options -
Do Small Things with Great Love – Adult Tee
$34.99 – $37.99 Select options -
Make Waves – Adult Tee
$34.99 – $37.99 Select options -
Bold & Kind – Adult Tee
$34.99 – $37.99 Select options -
Stronger Together – Adult Tee
$34.99 – $37.99 Select options -
Savor the Sweet Life – Adult Tee
$34.99 – $37.99 Select options -
Stay Curious – Adult Tee
$34.99 – $37.99 Select options -
Keep Shouting – Adult Tee
$34.99 – $37.99 Select options -
Resilient – Adult Tee
$34.99 – $37.99 Select options -
‘Tis the Season – Adult Tee
$34.99 – $37.99 Select options -
More to the Story – Adult Tee
$34.99 – $37.99 Select options -
Built for Life – Adult Tee
$34.99 – $37.99 Select options -
Love Above All Else Hoodie
$48.99 – $51.99 Select options -
GSL Logo Hoodie
$48.99 – $51.99 Read more -
#goshoutlove Hoodie
$48.99 – $51.99 Read more -
Love Above All Else Sweater
$43.00 Select options -
GSL Logo Sweater
$43.00 – $46.00 Select options -
#goshoutlove Sweater
$43.00 Select options -
Simply Joy – Adult Tee
$34.99 Select options -
Climb & Shine – Adult Tee
$34.99 – $37.99 Select options -
Celebrate Always – Adult Tee
$34.99 Select options -
Courageously into the Unknown – Adult Tee
$34.99 Select options -
Keep Crushin’ It – Adult Tee
$34.99 – $37.99 Select options -
We Can Do Hard Things – Adult Tee
$34.99 – $37.99 Select options -
One Tough Mother – Adult Tee
$34.99 – $37.99 Select options -
A Voice is Power – Adult Tee
$34.99 – $37.99 Select options -
Known & Loved – Adult Tee
$34.99 – $37.99 Select options -
Brave – Adult Tee
$34.99 – $37.99 Select options -
A Smile is Music for the Soul – Adult Tee
$34.99 – $37.99 Select options -
Everyone Belongs – Adult Tee
$34.99 – $37.99 Select options -
Joy is Where You Are – Adult Tee
$34.99 – $37.99 Select options -
Advocate – Adult Tee
$37.99 Select options -
Stay Present in Today – Adult Tee
$34.99 – $37.99 Select options -
Adventure Awaits – Adult Tee
$34.99 – $37.99 Select options -
Radiate Joy – Adult Tee
$34.99 – $37.99 Select options -
Enjoy the Ride – Adult Tee
$34.99 – $37.99 Select options -
Shine Bright – Adult Tee
$34.99 – $37.99 Select options -
Take Care – Adult Tee
$34.99 – $37.99 Select options -
Find Rest in Goodness – Adult Tee
$34.99 – $37.99 Select options -
Limitless – Adult Tee
$34.99 Select options -
Live in the Light – Adult Tee
$34.99 Select options -
Even in the Storm – Adult Tee
$37.99 Select options -
Love Dives Deep – Adult Tee
$34.99 – $37.99 Select options -
Different is Never Less – Adult Tee
$34.99 – $37.99 Select options
YOUTH SHIRTS
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Shout Loud – Youth Tee
$34.99 Select options -
Monthly Shirt Subscription – Youth
$31.99 / month Select options -
Bloom Where You Are Planted – Youth Tee
$34.99 Select options -
Celebrate the Good Days – Youth Tee
$34.99 Select options -
Bravery Knows No Size – Youth Tee
$34.99 Select options -
Roads Worth Choosing – Youth Tee
$34.99 Select options -
Every Breath, A Gift – Youth Tee
$34.99 Select options -
Do Small Things with Great Love – Youth Tee
$34.99 Select options -
Make Waves – Youth Tee
$34.99 Select options -
Bold & Kind – Youth Tee
$34.99 Select options -
Stronger Together – Youth Tee
$34.99 Select options -
Savor the Sweet Life – Youth Tee
$34.99 Select options -
Stay Curious – Youth Tee
$34.99 Select options -
Keep Shouting – Youth Tee
$34.99 Select options -
Resilient – Youth Tee
$34.99 Select options -
‘Tis the Season – Youth Tee
$34.99 Select options -
More to the Story – Youth Tee
$34.99 Select options -
Built for Life – Youth Tee
$34.99 Select options -
Simply Joy – Youth Tee
$34.99 Select options -
Climb & Shine – Youth Tee
$34.99 Select options -
Celebrate Always – Youth Tee
$34.99 Select options -
Courageously into the Unknown – Youth Tee
$34.99 Select options -
Keep Crushin’ It – Youth Tee
$34.99 Select options -
We Can Do Hard Things – Youth Tee
$32.99 – $34.99 Select options -
One Tough Cookie – Youth Tee
$34.99 Select options -
A Voice is Power – Youth Tee
$34.99 Select options -
Known & Loved – Youth Tee
$34.99 Select options -
Brave – Youth Tee
$34.99 Select options -
A Smile is Music for the Soul – Youth Tee
$34.99 Select options -
Everyone Belongs – Youth Tee
$34.99 Select options -
Joy is Where You Are – Youth Tee
$34.99 Select options -
Advocate – Youth Tee
$34.99 Select options -
Stay Present in Today – Youth Tee
$34.99 Select options -
Adventure Awaits – Youth Tee
$34.99 Select options -
Radiate Joy – Youth Tee
$34.99 Select options -
Enjoy the Ride – Youth Tee
$34.99 Select options -
Shine Bright – Youth Tee
$34.99 Select options -
Take Care – Youth Tee
$34.99 Select options -
Find Rest in Goodness – Youth Tee
$34.99 Select options -
Limitless – Youth Tee
$34.99 Select options -
Live in the Light – Youth Tee
$34.99 Select options -
Kindness Connects Us All – Youth Tee
$34.99 Select options -
Even in the Storm – Youth Tee
$34.99 Select options -
Love Dives Deep – Youth Tee
$34.99 Select options -
Different is Never Less – Youth Tee
$34.99 Select options -
Kindness Changes Everything – Youth Tee
$34.99 Select options -
We Are What We Roar – Youth Tee
$34.99 Select options -
Onward – Youth Tee
$34.99 Select options -
We is Greater than Me – Youth Tee
$34.99 Select options -
Amazingly Made – Youth Tee
$34.99 Select options
KIDS’ SHIRTS
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Shout Loud – Toddler Tee
$34.99 Select options -
Monthly Shirt Subscription – Child
$31.99 / month Select options -
Bloom Where You Are Planted – Toddler Tee
$34.99 Select options -
Celebrate the Good Days – Toddler Tee
$34.99 Select options -
Bravery Knows No Size – Toddler Tee
$34.99 Select options -
Roads Worth Choosing – Toddler Tee
$34.99 Select options -
Every Breath, A Gift – Toddler Tee
$34.99 Select options -
Do Small Things with Great Love – Toddler Tee
$34.99 Select options -
Make Waves – Toddler Tee
$34.99 Select options -
Bold & Kind – Toddler Tee
$34.99 Select options -
Bold & Kind – Infant Tee
$34.99 Select options -
Stronger Together – Toddler Tee
$34.99 Select options -
Savor the Sweet Life – Toddler Tee
$34.99 Select options -
Stay Curious – Toddler Tee
$34.99 Select options -
Keep Shouting – Toddler Tee
$34.99 Select options -
Resilient – Toddler Tee
$34.99 Select options -
‘Tis the Season – Toddler Tee
$34.99 Select options -
More to the Story – Toddler Tee
$34.99 Select options -
Built for Life – Toddler Tee
$34.99 Select options -
Simply Joy – Toddler Tee
$34.99 Select options -
Climb & Shine – Infant Tee
$34.99 Select options -
Climb & Shine – Toddler Tee
$34.99 Select options -
Celebrate Always – Infant Tee
$34.99 Select options -
Courageously into the Unknown – Toddler Tee
$34.99 Select options -
Keep Crushin’ It – Toddler Tee
$34.99 Select options -
A Voice is Power – Toddler Tee
$34.99 Select options -
Known & Loved – Toddler Tee
$34.99 Select options -
Same Storm, Different Boat – Toddler Tee
$34.99 Select options -
Brave – Toddler Tee
$34.99 Select options -
A Smile is Music for the Soul – Toddler Tee
$34.99 Select options -
Everyone Belongs – Toddler Tee
$34.99 Select options -
Joy is Where You Are – Toddler Tee
$34.99 Select options -
Advocate – Toddler Tee
$34.99 Select options -
Stay Present in Today – Toddler Tee
$34.99 Select options -
Adventure Awaits – Infant Tee
$34.99 Select options -
Adventure Awaits – Toddler Tee
$34.99 Select options -
Radiate Joy – Toddler Tee
$34.99 Select options -
Enjoy the Ride – Onesie
$34.99 Select options -
Shine Bright – Toddler Tee
$34.99 Select options -
Shine Bright – Onesie
$34.99 Select options -
Take Care – Child Tee
$34.99 Select options -
Find Rest in Goodness – Child Tee
$34.99 Select options -
Limitless – Child Tee
$34.99 Select options -
Live in the Light – Child Tee
$34.99 Select options -
Kindness Connects Us All – Child Tee
$34.99 Select options -
Even in the Storm – Child Tee
$34.99 Select options -
Love Dives Deep – Child Tee
$34.99 Select options -
Kindness Changes Everything – Child Tee
$34.99 Select options -
We Are What We Roar – Child Tee
$34.99 Select options -
Onward – Child Tee
$34.99 Select options