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<\/a>Sayler and Ryder Stevens Today<\/p><\/div>\n
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In early 2023, Haley had an idea. She wanted to write a book for Mother\u2019s Day, a gift for her and Justin\u2019s mothers. Haley didn\u2019t quite make her Mother\u2019s Day deadline, but she pressed on anyway. She wanted to write a story about Sayler\u2019s life, showing how she loves to sing, dance, and play just like any other child. As she started in on the story, she realized she needed some help, so she reached out to her oldest friend, her sister Dana Sellers. Since Haley already had some ideas in mind and Dana has great creative and organizational skills, they were able to put the script of the book together pretty quickly. These two sisters had written a children\u2019s book!<\/p>\n
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![\"\"](\"https:\/\/iphc.org\/gso\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2024\/05\/Aunt-Sayler-Mom.jpg\")
<\/a>Caption: Aunt Dana Sellers, Sayler Stevens, and Mom Haley Stevens<\/p><\/div>\n
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The next step was illustrations. They reached out to a friend of theirs who had made some t-shirts in the past, with Sayler\u2019s likeness, for the Special Olympics. Her name is Jerrica Smith-Johnson. Haley and Dana have expressed appreciation for the time and patience Jerrica put into the project. They were determined to make everything perfectly accurate and sent Jerrica back to the drawing board numerous times. Since Sayler has Cerebral Palsy, she needs a little assistance sometimes; that assistance comes in the form of leg\/foot braces, a walker, and a wheelchair. Jerrica took the time to draw an accurate depiction of the braces and walker, even her special shoes that zip all the way around, allowing for her braces to fit easily inside. Haley and Dana were thrilled.<\/p>\n
In the fall of 2023, the sisters were actively working to get the book published. After looking through the possibilities, they found Amazon Publishing to be the best choice, but it was far from an easy task. There were issues with sizing and spacing and text and margins. The process seemed endless. Haley and Dana were close to giving up. Thankfully, they didn\u2019t. Just a few days before Christmas of 2023, they received approval. The book was ready! \u201cAdventures of Sayler: Cerebral Palsy Warrior\u201d was available for purchase.<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/iphc.org\/gso\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2024\/05\/Book.jpg\")
<\/a>\u201cAdventures of Sayler: Cerebral Palsy Warrior\u201d<\/p><\/div>\n
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\u201cAdventures of Sayler: Cerebral Palsy Warrior\u201d is a simple story, but an important one. The book speaks to Sayler\u2019s desire to participate in all of the activities that children desire to be a part of. For example, with just a few modifications, Sayler plays on a local baseball league, and Haley and Dana were able to include that in her story. Sayler also loves to explore and climb, and in her story, she does just that.<\/p>\n
The book also holds special secrets that only the family will recognize. For instance, as Saylerheads out on her adventure in the woods, she meets up with a honeybee. The bee\u2019s name is \u201cTillie Bee.\u201d Tillie is Sayler\u2019s middle name and a nod to Great Grandmother Willie Bea Vavak. Bea Vavak collected bee keepsakes. Sheila Sellers, Bea Vavak\u2019s daughter and Sayler\u2019sgrandmother, continued the tradition introduced by her mom, and she also collects bee paraphernalia. For Haley and Dana, bees are an integral part of their memories with theirgrandmother and mother, so it was only natural to include a bee in their book about Sayler.<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/iphc.org\/gso\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2024\/05\/autograph.jpg\")
<\/a>Sayler Signing Her Autograph With Help From Uncle Jonathan Sellers<\/p><\/div>\n
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Haley shared that before Sayler and Ryder\u2019s birth, she was a very private person. When the premature labor began, followed by the quick birth and the subsequent surgeries to save the twins, Haley, Justin, and their extended family were surrounded immediately by love and support. There were prayer groups formed on social media, and the Stevens\u2019 story was being shared around the world. Haley\u2019s eyes fill with tears as she recalls the people who came up to Mercy Hospital, knowing they would be unable to see the newborns; they just wanted to be nearby, to pray in the chapel, to stand in the gap for this family and the babies who were already so loved. Others were the hands and feet of Jesus over those first months, cleaning at the Stevens\u2019 home, running errands, showing up in the practical. Haley said that this side of heaven she may never know the name of every person who interceded for them, gave of their time or money; she is just so very thankful.<\/p>\n
Dana Sellers told of how the IPHC family made an impact during this difficult time: \u201cWe saw multiple generations of people from the IPHC consistently show up. They were a physical presence: cleaning house, offering financial, emotional, and spiritual support. There were times when we couldn\u2019t encourage ourselves. We felt so broken. The IPHC family came to create a buffer around our heart and soul, to make sure that these pieces of ourselves were intact and protected.\u201d Sayler and Ryder are at least fifth generation IPHC members. Justin\u2019s mother\u2019s family, the Goad family, as well as his father\u2019s, the Stevens\u2019 family, have a long, rich history within the IPHC. In addition, Haley\u2019s mother\u2019s family, the Vavak and Jackson families, also bring at least five generations of IPHC. What a legacy! The twins\u2019 great grandmother, Haley\u2019s grandmother, Bea Vavak, mentioned earlier, was well known within the IPHC; she worked in the accounting department for 31 years before retiring. Bea Vavak has since been promoted to her heavenly home. The sisters, Haley and Dana, joke that she picked the twins out especially for Haley, saying of Sayler: \u201cI\u2019m gonna give you a spicy one!\u201d They imagine she is getting a kick out of watching the twins grow and seeing all the fun the family is having.<\/p>\n
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