About Us
A Graham of Love was born out of a desire to encourage parents with children receiving long-term medical treatment and rehabilitation. As a newly founded Dallas-based nonprofit, we build relationships with rehabilitation centers and long-term inpatient facilities to better serve parents and caregivers.
Our Mission
Our mission is to provide encouragement and comfort to parents with a child receiving long-term medical treatment. Whether a child was born with a disability, suffered a traumatic accident, or is struggling with an illness, we know the parents need just as much support as the child. At A Graham of Love, our goal is to walk alongside parents in a meaningful way to let them know they are not alone.
Our Story
In January 2022 our son, Graham, suffered a spinal L1 Lumbar Burst Fracture and spinal cord injury. The next few weeks and months were difficult as we spent a week in the pediatric ICU isolated covid wing, and then 2 weeks at in-patient rehabilitation. Although extremely blessed to receive amazing care from talented healthcare providers we realized how lonely and isolating extended hospital care can be.
As parents, the next days and weeks would be mentally and physically exhausting with long days, overnight stays and the flood of care and information from doctors, nurses, therapists, and staff. The brief moments of quiet between all the activity would bring overwhelming emotions of loneliness and fear of how life had changed overnight. During the hardest moments any unexpected gift made us feel cared for and supported.
It was from those many hours and nights that A Graham of Love was born. From our own experience we knew the best way we could make other parents feel known, encouraged, and comforted was a gift tote bag filled with encouraging notes, items, and treats.
Our Story
In January 2022 our son, Graham, suffered a spinal L1 Lumbar Burst Fracture and spinal cord injury. The next few weeks and months were difficult as we spent a week in the pediatric ICU isolated covid wing, and then 2 weeks at in-patient rehabilitation. Although extremely blessed to receive amazing care from talented healthcare providers we realized how lonely and isolating extended hospital care can be.
As parents, the next days and weeks would be mentally and physically exhausting with long days, overnight stays and the flood of care and information from doctors, nurses, therapists, and staff. The brief moments of quiet between all the activity would bring overwhelming emotions of loneliness and fear of how life had changed overnight. During the hardest moments any unexpected gift made us feel cared for and supported.
It was from those many hours and nights that A Graham of Love was born. From our own experience we knew the best way we could make other parents feel known, encouraged, and comforted was a gift tote bag filled with encouraging notes, items, and treats.
Serving Families together
Rehabilitation is a team effort.
Board Members
Laura Rhoades
Founder and President
Laura founded A Graham of Love after spending many weeks in the pediatric ICU and in-patient rehabilitation with her son, Graham. While Laura and her husband cared for their son, they felt the impact of being isolated and alone, and each of their family members experienced many trials in dealing with the tragic accident. Through that time, Graham and his family were blessed in so many ways by family and friends, and now they want to do the same for others. Building relationships and caring for others has been a consistent theme throughout Laura’s life that has brought her great Joy. Their hope is that the community of A Graham of Love brings comfort and joy to other families affected by medical issues. They hope to encourage and comfort the parents of those in long-term medical care.
Alison Stubing
Board Member
Alison Stubing is the Founder and President of LIFE Therapies, llc. LIFE Therapies, llc , founded in 1996, provides in home habilitation therapy to adolescents and young adults with developmental disabilities. As a therapist herself, Alison uses her 27 years of experience to meet each client’s individual needs. She is deeply passionate about helping her clients develop the skills needed to enhance functional independence for community living and to promote a higher quality of life for the individual and therefore their family. Being on the board of A Graham of Love touches Alison both professionally and personally. Alison Stated, “When human beings experience trauma or severe life stressors, it is not uncommon for their lives to feel out of control. Watching my sister in law and family go through my nephew’s traumatic injury I saw so clearly how much need there is to help families like hers find some moments of comfort during a very stressful time.”
Angie Shields
Board Member
Angie Shields is a Professional School Counselor who works with adolescents and specializes in Trauma Informed Care. She has experienced her own journey of being a caregiver throughout her daughter Avery’s 17 years of being medically dependent. Avery has spent over 500 days inpatient and had over 30 surgeries. Two of those stays were at Our Children’s House. Angie feels incredibly blessed by the many people who helped her family along the way and desires to give back to others. She is a firm believer that if “you don’t put on your own oxygen mask on first, you won’t be able to take care of others.” It is Angie’s hope through the honor of serving on a Graham of Love, we will give caregivers the opportunity to feel supported as they breathe a little deeper while putting their own oxygen on first.
Katy Hancock
Board Member
Katy Hancock owns KTPR & Communications, a Dallas-based communications consultancy. A long-time veteran of big public relations firms, Katy joined the A Graham of Love board in the spring of 2023 to help build awareness of our efforts to support families as they walk through trying days, weeks or months of treatment and healing.
Board Members
Laura Rhoades
Founder and President
Laura founded A Graham of Love after spending many weeks in the pediatric ICU and in-patient rehabilitation with her son, Graham. While Laura and her husband cared for their son, they felt the impact of being isolated and alone, and each of their family members experienced many trials in dealing with the tragic accident. Through that time, Graham and his family were blessed in so many ways by family and friends, and now they want to do the same for others. Building relationships and caring for others has been a consistent theme throughout Laura’s life that has brought her great Joy. Their hope is that the community of A Graham of Love brings comfort and joy to other families affected by medical issues. They hope to encourage and comfort the parents of those in long-term medical care.
Angie Shields
Board Member
Angie Shields is a Professional School Counselor who works with adolescents and specializes in Trauma Informed Care. She has experienced her own journey of being a caregiver throughout her daughter Avery’s 17 years of being medically dependent. Avery has spent over 500 days inpatient and had over 30 surgeries. Two of those stays were at Our Children’s House. Angie feels incredibly blessed by the many people who helped her family along the way and desires to give back to others. She is a firm believer that if “you don’t put on your own oxygen mask on first, you won’t be able to take care of others.” It is Angie’s hope through the honor of serving on a Graham of Love, we will give caregivers the opportunity to feel supported as they breathe a little deeper while putting their own oxygen on first.
Alison Stubing
Board Member
Alison Stubing is the Founder and President of LIFE Therapies, llc. LIFE Therapies, llc , founded in 1996, provides in home habilitation therapy to adolescents and young adults with developmental disabilities. As a therapist herself, Alison uses her 27 years of experience to meet each client’s individual needs. She is deeply passionate about helping her clients develop the skills needed to enhance functional independence for community living and to promote a higher quality of life for the individual and therefore their family. Being on the board of A Graham of Love touches Alison both professionally and personally. Alison Stated, “When human beings experience trauma or severe life stressors, it is not uncommon for their lives to feel out of control. Watching my sister in law and family go through my nephew’s traumatic injury I saw so clearly how much need there is to help families like hers find some moments of comfort during a very stressful time.”
Katy Hancock
Board Member
Katy Hancock owns KTPR & Communications, a Dallas-based communications consultancy. A long-time veteran of big public relations firms, Katy joined the A Graham of Love board in the spring of 2023 to help build awareness of our efforts to support families as they walk through trying days, weeks or months of treatment and healing.
Ambassadors
Graham Rhoades
Graham Rhoades, a 16-year-old junior at Richardson High School, is kind, caring and loves cracking jokes with his brother and Dad. Graham is passionate about his faith, high school band, gaming, and working on cars. As a growing musician, he loves playing the trombone, piano, bass guitar, and acoustic guitar. Playing with a friend, Graham suffered a spinal L1 lumbar burst fracture and Spinal Cord Injury. Although the recovery road was long, Graham has shown how resilient he is, growing stronger through diversity and perseverance.
Ambassadors
Graham Rhoades
Graham Rhoades, a 16-year-old junior at Richardson High School, is kind, caring and loves cracking jokes with his brother and Dad. Graham is passionate about his faith, high school band, gaming, and working on cars. As a growing musician, he loves playing the trombone, piano, bass guitar, and acoustic guitar. Playing with a friend, Graham suffered a spinal L1 lumbar burst fracture and Spinal Cord Injury. Although the recovery road was long, Graham has shown how resilient he is, growing stronger through diversity and perseverance.
Our goal is to gift parents tote bags filled with comfort items, encouraging notes and treats. Your donation will help make this vision be put in action.
A $75 donation gifts one filled tote bag to a parent in need!
Our goal is to gift parents tote bags filled with comfort items, encouraging notes and treats. Your donation will help make this vision be put in action.
A $75 donation gifts one filled tote bag to a parent in need!
a 501c3 nonprofit organization
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