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Local Couple Looks To Brighten Holidays |
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Wednesday, 18 November 2009 |
By ALLISON ROORDA
Staff Writer
MINSTER — The holiday season is a time for giving and one local couple plans to do just that this year.
Troy and Amy Grillot are offering an opportunity to give to those in need, in memory of their son, Lennon Ryan Grillot, who died Aug. 4, 2008. Project Happy Christmas provides Christmas presents and donations to families who would otherwise not be able to exchange presents.
"We lost our son and trying to think about how are we going to get through the holidays," Amy Grillot said.
Grillot's aunt and uncle suggested doing something to remember their loss, such as a remembrance garden.
"We started brainstorming and talking about donations and stuff," Amy Grillot said. "And it developed from there."
Last year, the couple started the project with their friends and families. The Grillots found a contact through a local pastor, who finds families in need and connects them with the Grillots.
"We had just gotten an explosion of people being interested in it," Amy Grillot said. "We introduced it to our family and friends around Thanksgiving, and they were all really excited."
Last year, the Grillots found two families to help. One was a single mother of four who was also attending college, while another single mother of four who was dealing with medical issues.
"By the time we were done and we were driving home after delivering to the second family and spending time with them, I just looked at Troy and said I almost feel guilty because I feel so good," Amy Grillot said. "It was just overwhelming. For it to be such a horrible experience losing our son, it was probably one of the best Christmases we've ever had."
Both families provided Christmas wish lists to the Grillots, who then distributed the lists to family and friends who wanted to buy presents for the families. Wagner's IGA and The Looking Glass also donated to the families with gifts of food and a makeover day for one mother and two daughters.
"I actually keep in contact with both families now and our kids have spent time together," Amy Grillot said. "But we keep it confidential."
The couple had a wrapping party at their house with the presents that were donated or purchased for the families and then delivered the donations and presents to the families.
"You can say Christmas is all about the kids, but until you can actually see kids who are about to get nothing, and then they get all of this, it truly is all about the kids and the whole spirit of it all," Amy Grillot said. "It puts a whole new spin on these things."
The Children's Nest Discovery Center provided assistance to the project last year and will be used as a drop-off site for this year's drive for the families.
The Grillot's son, Lennon, was born on Aug. 4, 2008 with Trisomy 13, a genetic disorder associated with the presence of extra material for chromosome 13. The extra chromosome 13 disrupts the normal course of development, causing heart and kidney defects among other features. It occurs in about 1 out of 25,000 live births a year. Lennon's full-blown Trisomy 13 led to a fatal heart defect.
"There's supposed to be four chambers in your heart," Grillot said. "Three of his were collapsed or didn't develop properly."
Amy Grillot shared some memories of Lennon.
"To us, he was perfect, he was beautiful," Amy Grillot. "We got to hold him and got him baptized."
Most cases of Trisomy 13 ends in a miscarriage. Approximately 80 percent of children with Trisomy 13 die within the first month after birth.
The Grillots hope to have the lists of this year's families together by Thanksgiving and ready to distribute to those who wish to purchase gifts for the families.
"We put the details on about the family, why they are where they are," Amy Grillot said. "And people can buy off the list. People can cook. We had one request for monster cookies. It brings us back to the things that are so simple that we take for granted are things she was ready to cry over."
Grillot estimated, not including the food or monetary gifts, each family last year received 40 to 50 packages.
This year the couple wants to set up presents and donations for four different families.
"This is how we celebrate Christmas with Lennon," Amy Grillot said. "We still get to include him every year."
For more information about Project Happy Christmas, Troy and Amy Grillot can be contacted at 419-628-8062 or by e-mail at
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Last Updated ( Tuesday, 08 December 2009 )
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