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alina Miller, of Maple Heights, is on a mission to make special needs resources accessible to all mothers. She is the mother of two sons: Eric, 19, and 14-yearold Elijah, who has autism and multiple other diagnoses, including epilepsy and congenital glaucoma with vision impairment. Elijah has been the driving force behind her organization, Mother 2 Mother. “I didn’t know a lot of people and never went out to seek assistance,” she recalls. “I figured it out on my own, then realized that if I am struggling, others may be, too.” Two years ago, she organized a small support group for mothers with a ministry leader she worked with at The Word Church. This group grew Elijah and Salina Miller into Mother 2 Mother, a support, education and empowerment organization for mothers of children with special needs. Miller saw a need for greater awareness and education in the communities around her and felt compelled to act. “When low income families just want to make it day to day, special needs support takes a backseat to providing food and shelter,” she says. “I let them know there are services available and help them navigate (these options).” Mother 2 Mother hosts free monthly support meetings for coffee and conversation, networking and training with expert guest speakers on topics ranging from financial planning to stranger safety. Meetings take place at three locations: Warrensville Heights, Cleveland and Lakewood, the last of which offers child care. “We create a safe place to share with no judgement or barriers,” Miller says. “I always tell mothers, ‘You are not alone,’ and work to empower them with information and tools, so they don’t feel intimidated or afraid walking into an IEP meeting, for example.” She also organizes family-friendly outings to zoos, museum sensory-friendly days, Amish country, and even a vacation to Florida. She is now working to grow the group’s Art-tism program, which offers regular art and craft opportunities for a small fee. “Mother 2 Mother has brought life to me and Elijah,” Miller says. “We never got out to meet others on the same journey. I worried about a lot, like Elijah bolting, and it was an isolation period. Because of these women, we have become more active, and Elijah has opened up and made friends. We call ourselves a family.” In addition to her work with Mother 2 Mother, Miller also is a parent representative on Ohio’s State Support Team 3, parent involvement specialist for Warrensville Middle School, and a member of University Hospitals Rainbow Babies & Children’s Hospital Patient & Family Partnership Council. She is a recipient of the National Nurses Coalition Unsung Heroes Award. To connect with Mother 2 Mother, attend meetings or volunteer, visit mother2mother.info, email contact@ mother2mother.info or find the group on Facebook.
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Making A Difference In The Lives Of Super Moms
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other of three Ebony Storrs, of Euclid, started journaling after an Ebony Storrs overwhelming day in 2016. “My husband was at work, and we were out of medicine,” she recalls. “In a rush to get it, my car got stuck in a mountain of snow at the end of our driveway. I got out and somehow locked my keys, phone and kids inside. My newborn had pushed out of the car seat and my daughter was having a meltdown, so I feared for their safety. I was in a panic and felt like the worst mother, but in that moment with adrenaline going, jumping over snow piles and running to neighbors’ houses, I felt like I was flying for my kids, doing anything I could for them.” Her writings after that experience became the foundation for her nonprofit, SuperMoms Association, Inc. “I felt so overwhelmed and stressed, but my pastor told me, ‘You are amazing Supermom. Use your cape as your mantel to tell God what you need.’ So I did.” Storrs had a vision to provide support, resources and respite for mothers of children with special needs. Her own experiences having three premature babies, one with a chronic lung disease and two with autism spectrum disorder (one of whom is nonverbal), inspire and drive her efforts. “We as moms are typically the caregivers in the community, and everything falls on us,” Storrs says. “Yes, we have Mother’s Day, but we are a forgotten community. We don’t get the attention we should, and we don’t care for ourselves. We are the last and the leftover.” SuperMoms Association puts mothers of children with special needs first by creating a sense of belonging and caring for those who may feel isolated or lack support. After serving in the military, Storrs earned a business degree and event planning certification, which she draws on to organize the SuperMoms Association’s programming and events, including the elaborate annual Mother’s Day Spa & Brunch held at The Salon Professional Academy in Mayfield Heights, as well as self-care packages and other local events. One of the first projects she organized was a collection of new beds for a single mother plagued by bed bugs and a double stroller for a mother with a child who wandered. Now, she and her five board members are planning a backto-school focused gathering to share ETR, IEP and related resources, and there are plans to launch monthly raffles of massages or other self-care offerings. Storrs leads efforts to collect sponsorships and other donations to fund her mission and directly support mothers in the community, so “they don’t have to do it all alone.” To connect with SuperMoms and access resources, visit supermomsassociation.org, email supermomsassociation@gmail.com or call 216-202-9673.
LEFT PHOTO: JESSIE STEIMLE PHOTOGRAPHY
Crusading To Raise Awareness