John and Edie Reb are the parents of four children. The eldest is Christina, who teaches English Literature at an elementary school; next comes John, who is married and is a supervisor of a 24 hour fitness gym; his twin brother, James, is in his last year at McGeorge School of Law and then their youngest son, Adam, who is the focus of this story.

Mrs. Reb said that Adam was a full term baby. While there was nothing unusual about her pregnancy, the delivery was so difficult that it resulted in baby Adam nearly dying. He was a "blue" baby and the physicians did not expect him to live more than a few hours. The parents were living in Santa Rosa at the time so the baby was flown to Children’s Hospital in Oakland in an attempt to save his life. It was here that Mr. and Mrs. Reb learned that Adam had a congenital heart defect as well as Spinal Bifida. The doctors told the Rebs to give Adam all the love they could for they may not have him very long. He spent the first six weeks of his life at the hospital before he was released to go home. When he was approximately two months old, the Rebs were told that Adam was also profoundly deaf and suffered from severe mental retardation. Mrs. Reb stated that she knew something was wrong, but didn’t know what. "When you have two three-year old boys running around the house and an eight-year old daughter bringing her friends around and he wasn’t responding to anything. . . well I knew something was wrong," she said. The hospital referred them to the South Bay Regional Center where they were assigned a great case worker.

Not long after that the family moved to Simi Valley in Southern California. Mr. Reb, who is a sales manager in the graphic arts industry, was transferred there by his company. They lived there for about four years when Adam developed a breathing problem. His physicians suggested that his problem might be due to the smog and that he might do better if they were to move. Therefore, Mr. Reb went to the company and told them he had to move. He told them that if they had a job for him some place else that would be fine. If not, he would have to quit and find employment elsewhere. To their credit, the company understood and were able to transfer him to Fairfield where the Rebs resided for 18 years. Adam received his schooling through Fairfield’s public school program until he was twenty-two and then attended their adult program. During this time, Mrs. Reb was employed as a legal secretary, a job she held for 15 years.

Adam was diagnosed as having a tethered cord in August 2000. The doctors described the needed surgery as routine. Mrs. Reb said the surgery itself was successful, however, five days after taking him home he began acting differently. They took him to the hospital where they were told it was just some minor infection and advised to take him home and put a warm compress on the surgical wound.

Due to Adam’s health related issues, the Rebs decided to move once again. This time they planned to move to Elk Grove. They made it a point to visit the Elk Grove Adult Community Training (EGACT) program before they moved and were very impressed. Although Mrs. Reb was told there was a waiting list, she didn’t realize it was going to be nearly two years before Adam could be enrolled! Without realizing this, they went ahead and moved into the area. Then it took nine months to find a program for Adam. The closest facility they found that could take Adam was 25 miles one way, and Mrs. Reb was forced to transport him three times a week, then find something to do before taking him back home each time. Every month Mrs. Reb would call EGACT to see if there was any change in the waiting list. Then one day she was delighted to find a message which informed her that Adam could be accommodated at EGACT on June 1, 2003.

Mrs. Reb described the EGACT staff that works with Adam as, "unspeakably the best". "Everyone of them has a way about them that is very special. Adam has accomplished things that I had not deemed possible. "Our family is truly blessed to have Adam at such a wonderful place."

She said that just before Christmas the two teachers in Adam’s class (Maureen and Augusta) sent a tape home which illustrated the progress Adam had made. He can now wheel himself into the bathroom and turn himself around, he no longer hits people, he interacts positively with his classmates, he waits patiently to be changed and he plays games. Mrs. Reb said Maureen is now working on teaching Adam to drink from a cup. She no longer doubts that such a thing is possible. At the present time, he will only drink water by sucking on a wet cloth.

One can only admire Mr. and Mrs. Reb for their positive reaction to all they have been through. Adam will soon celebrate his 25th birthday - a true testament of how all the virtues we admire are wrapped up in the love and care they have given and continue to give Adam. Awesome, simply awesome!

The family wants to thank the wonderful staff who work with and help Adam so much. They are: Maureen Chauvie, Auagusta Osayande, Jodi Bella, Margo Marcano, Monica Pompei, Melida Morales and Annette Robinson