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J13 – October Newsletter Update 2025
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When Friendship Fuels Confidence:
Landon’s First Night Away from Home
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The first night away from home came with some hesitation for Landon, with new experiences in our Respite Program (R2R) waiting just ahead. But by dinner time, a burger, fries, and a game of Uno with friends had suddenly transformed uncertainty into laughter, comfort, and belonging.
After a morning hike on Saturday, surrounded by friends and his J13 coaches, courage began to take root. Later that day at Morgan’s Wonderland, Landon stood at the top of the water slide, hesitant to go down. His friends gathered below, cheering and calling his name. With a deep breath and a smile, he pushed off, racing down the slide to a wave of laughter and high-fives at the bottom.
That single moment became the story of his entire weekend: uncertainty turning into courage, hesitation into joy, and doubt into determination.
Through weekends like these, R2R is nurturing the friendships and real-world experiences that help Landon take confident steps toward continued growth and lifelong care.
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When Courage Meets Community: Katie’s First Climb in 13 Years |
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Katie used to love climbing. But after a major back surgery thirteen years ago, she thought that part of her life was over. This month, surrounded by her J13 coaches and friends, Katie clipped into her harness and took her first climb since surgery. The gym grew still as she made her way up the wall, then burst into cheers as she reached her goal of climbing up half way.
Smiling down, she said, “I did it! I’m getting to the top next time!” A week later, supported and determined, she climbed 55ft to the top!
Moments like this capture the heart of J13: rebuilding confidence, rediscovering joy, and proving that growing doesn’t mean doing it alone, it means having a community that believes in you.
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When Purpose Gives Back: Daniel and Casper
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For Daniel, unpredictability has never been easy. He finds comfort in structure, clear steps, familiar routines, and knowing what comes next. Strong odors and dirt can also be hard for him to tolerate, making new environments even more challenging. So when he arrived to volunteer at Healing with Horses, he wasn’t sure what the day would bring.
But something about the rhythm of the ranch began to ease his worry. Each purposeful task whether cleaning stalls, refilling hay bags, or clearing pastures offered Daniel meaningful engagement. The work gave him direction in a setting that might otherwise have felt unpredictable, replacing anxiety with a steady sense of contribution.
One of the stalls he cared for belonged to a calm, white horse named Casper. At the end of the day, Daniel finally met him. As Daniel reached out to offer gentle pets, Casper leaned in, eyes soft and trusting, as if he understood the care that had gone into every task that day.
Through our volunteer partnership with Healing with Horses, Community Members like Daniel experience the power of purposeful work, adding value to their community, finding peace in new environments, and discovering the deep connection that comes from serving others.
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Thank You for Creating Moments That Move Us!
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Moments like these and so many others are only possible because of you. To our partners, volunteers, donors, and ambassadors, thank you for believing in this mission and walking beside us.
Your generosity has turned care into connection, programs into purpose, and stories into lifelong impact for every family we serve.
With gratitude, |
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Want to know more? Visit us at john13.org or on social media: | |
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