Thomas Gibson
Thomas’ Transitions & Triumphs
Each year, thousands of children round the country walk across various stages and platforms to receive a diploma and complete a milestone chapter of their life. Each leaves behind teachers, assistants, and countless others, most of whom will no longer play a part in the child’s story.
At UCP’s graduation on June 3, 90 children with special needs and miraculous stories walked across Jones High School’s stage triumphantly reaching a truly exceptional goal in their life. Each child was prepared to enter a kindergarten classroom and begin a new chapter of his or her story that may or may not involve UCP.
In 2004, Thomas Joseph Gibson graduated from UCP and its services. The four-year-old known for his hearty laugh and kind spirit had overcome many obstacles while under UCP’s care. Born 13 weeks premature on March 2, 1999, Thomas weighed 4 pounds, 10 ounces and had many physical and emotional complications due to prenatal substance exposure.
Today, a year after his graduation, Thomas is enrolled in a regular kindergarten classroom at International Community School, a combination of a private Christian school and home schooling. He attends classes two days a week, while receiving home instruction the other three days. In class, Thomas does remarkably well, recognizing numbers, letters, shapes and colors. He is even beginning to write.
“He is academically at the skill level for his age,” said Jim Gibsom, his father. “But he’s also very athletic. Our little muscular boy won an athletic contest in running and jumping this past year.”
But Thomas’ outstanding achievements and qualities don’t stop there. He is also a very intuitive, nurturing and gentle big brother. “His sweet spirit is adorable,” Tami Gibson, Thomas’ mother said. “He has been through a lot of hardship in this world, and yet he keeps pressing on and going like the Energizer Bunny.”
Thomas’ miraculous capabilities are the result of team work and a hard determination to overcome many obstacles. Thomas was one of 10,000 children in the state each year who are foster children, taken out of their homes due to abuse or neglect. At four months of age, Thomas was one of the few lucky children to be placed in a loving foster care home. He was transferred by the state to foster parents Jim and Tami Gibson, who brought Thomas to UCP when he was seven months old.
“Thomas required a lot of physical and speech therapy for problems caused by fetal alcohol syndrome,” his mother said. “It was a very uncertain time for us. Doctors said he could possibly be blind or deaf.”
Over the next few years, the Gibsons, UCP staff, and Thomas worked together diligently. “Our relationship with UCP was invaluable,” Jim said. “The love and professional services they gave Thomas were key ingredients to his success.”
“Doctors frequently painted gloomy pictures for Thomas, but UCP always had hope and love ready for him,” Tami added.
Tiffany Dowling, a UCP physical therapist, worked with Thomas until he graduated. “Thomas really came out of his shell here,” she said. “He always had this cute little laugh, and he was one of the happiest, loving boys- that came from his mom. She has a heart of gold.”
And she truly does. Tami and Jim Gibson became involved in foster care through their church, Northland, in Longwood, Florida. “We saw it as a family ministry,” Jim said. “It was our principal motivation, as we were constantly surrounded by friends and other people who were foster parents.”
The Gibson’s went through the education requirements and became licensed foster parents. “The first step was going to a foster care class that our church sponsored,” Tami said. “We developed life-long relationships through that class.”
Thomas was the first of four children the Gibson’s fostered and adopted. Tami said their initial intentions were not adoption. “However, it became clear, once they’re with you, you don’t want to let go,” she said.
UCP is beginning its own foster care program to equip foster parents with the skills, education, and license to foster special needs kids- an idea which the Gibson’s believe in strongly. “UCP is well equipped to help special needs children in the system. They can facilitate the community resources for foster kids and parents,” Jim said.
“And without early intervention, Thomas wouldn’t be where he is today. UCP is again looking to create hope and intervene early in the lives of special needs foster children,” Tami added.
Because of early intervention and a loving family, Thomas Gibson is now on track developmentally, and his chapter at UCP has closed. But his miraculous story of determination and his sweet spirit of love and growth continue on- a testament to the power of love and hope found at UCP and in being a foster parent.
If you would like more information on UCP’s Special Kids Foster Care program, please visit our Web site or contact Jean Wilson at 407-852-3372 or jwilson@ucpcdc.org.
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