All The pieces foundation... the where...and the why

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We are located in northern Maine in Aroostook County.  We know first hand the obstacles faced by those with special needs in more remote areas.  Although we are funding locally based programs we are always looking to expand our reach and connection to communities all over the USA.

We know first hand the stuggle of living in a rural area.  While it can be difficult just to live day to day in remote areas, when you have a special needs child with  developmental, behavioral, and cognitive differences it can become a whole new level of difficult.  We also know that living in a smaller community can be a strength and an advantage.  We have had to find connections within our community to find the help needed.  Sometimes that means reaching far beyond the local amenities.  With spending large amounts of time doing online research and talking with other parents and grandparents, we have  been busy learning about new medical treatments, alternative and supplemental treatments, and even general ways of coping with day to day issues.  We are continuously seeking information to share.  

The story of how we got here is likely not very different than the story of so many parents and care givers of children with developmental, behavioral, and cognitive differences.  

Our Sunshine, my grandson, was born, as are so many these days, addicted to hard drugs.  His mother was incarcerated leaving his father to try to raise his son on his own.   For a time, this little bundle of energy did amazing,  with little indication of his troubled start. But then as he got a little older… we saw him begin to really struggle. He was eventually diagnosed with Disruptive Mood Dysregulation Disorder (DMDD), Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), and Autism.  We  watched this amazingly bright and intelligent child struggle with a lack of impulse control due to the damage from the drugs in utero. He would go from sweet and loving to screaming and threatening in seconds.  It is devastating and terrifying to watch, and I can only imagine it is terrifying for a young child to experience.   

We are faced with having only very limited access to medical care and even more limited choices and assistance.  His local doctor very heavily medicated him and offered little to no oversight.  There was no listening to parents or being open to learning about new protocols and no offering of options. 

Eventually, we were able to take him off of all the medications. We cleaned up his diet, and began to see him thrive again. (in spurts). He is incredibly intelligent but has little impulse control and the issues that come with autism make it all even more difficult. 

 Despite any positive steps forward, there are always intense bouts of moving backwards. The most we could do is try to arrange our lives to give him the most consistency and positive reinforcement that we could and to make the backwards moments easier for all of us.

After moving to a different small local town, and continuing to grow a small business while parenting a high maintenance child the struggles began to take their toll on the whole family.  

 My son, was at the brink of his own meltdown one day when he called me and announced that either he needed to become a doctor or start a non-profit or something and fix the issues with this system himself. 

This is now culminating in the creation of  this non-profit, All The Pieces Foundation. created by myself and my son to bring resources, education and awareness  to underserved communities.

I am so excited to invite you to join us in this so important mission and journey of bringing help to all families and communities. 

(Told by LoriAnn Bouchard,  Memere to a very special Sunshine and excerpted from her co-authored book, "The Call Within: Finding Purpose and Sparking Transformation")