Stories of Progress

Cherishing hope and healing

Raising a loved one with special needs isn’t easy. Being part of a supportive Christian Science community helps foster healing and encouragement!

CherishAbility is blessed to share these stories and expressions of gratitude, hope and healing with you. They convey the impact and benefits of our mission better than we could ourselves.

Current Story

Austin washing dishes during CherishAbility’s Vocational Training Program

Austin’s journey to a life of independence

—Austin and Bruce Morehardt

Austin Morehardt greets every day with a joy and happiness that lifts everyone around him. It’s not uncommon for his former elementary school teachers to see him in the grocery store and run up to give him a hug, says his father Bruce Morehardt, of Azusa, Calif. Bruce and Austin recently shared their story with us.

Bruce describes how he felt 30 years ago when Austin, his middle child, was born with developmental special needs. Austin was diagnosed early on with several challenges, including a language learning disorder and dyslexia.

“When you have a child with special needs and you’ve not been around that, it really throws you. You’re like, ‘Wow, what do I do? I don’t even have the tools to begin to think about this,’” he recalls. “But then when you look at it through Christian Science, then you know the next step is going to be a working out. Christian Science has absolutely made a difference in the quality of Austin’s life. It’s been huge.”

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