Nonprofit’s Support ‘Irreplaceable’ To Broken Arrow Family Raising Child With Disabilities

A Broken Arrow family is opening up about the realities of raising a child with disabilities. They're hoping to shed some light on why the support from a local nonprofit called Will's House is irreplaceable to families like theirs. 

Sarah Ross and her husband Dave have six kids between the two of them. One of those kids is Kayleigh.

"Kayleigh mostly functions as about an eight-to nine-month-old," said Ross. 

Ross adopted her daughter Kayleigh almost ten years ago from Ethiopia. 

"When she came home to us at eight and a half, she weighed 20 pounds," said Ross. "We found she has a pair of genetic disorders, she has Wolf-Hirschhorn syndrome, or 4P Syndrome."

Despite Kayleigh's medical issues, she has flourished because of the love of her family.  

"I honestly don't remember what my world was like before Kayleigh, she has stretched us beyond our limits, she has shown me God is faithful," said Ross. 

On January 6, 2019, Ross’ husband Gareth Moffatt passed away, leaving her a single mom. 

"We always just managed," said Ross, describing the friends and family members who stepped up to help when they could. 

Eventually Ross met and fell in love with Dave. The kids adored him, but when he proposed they had no one to care for Kayleigh during their honeymoon.

That's when Jeanette O'Hara with Will's House walked into their lives.

"I have four kids. I have four boys they are under nine: nine, eight, six and three. I have two that have special needs or medical needs. So, we have school and therapy and extracurricular activities," said O’Hara. 

O’Hara and her husband created Will's House in honor of their eight-year-old son who died in 2017. They provide childcare for children with disabilities and severe medical needs.

"I have specific skills as a physical therapist and a mom and a network of highly skilled volunteers that can help cover those bases," said O’Hara. 

Will's House is a support system for families - a community - a reminder they are not alone. 

"She literally let magic happen because I got to go have a honeymoon in Jamaica," said Ross. “I didn't worry a single day whether Kayleigh was okay or not. I knew she was in great hands. Will's House is going to make that a possibility for so many parents."

To connect with Will’s House, click here.