Meet the Rosengren Family

We knew from birth that something was wrong," says Lynda Rosengren, thinking back to the start of her life-altering journey with son, Derek.

After many diagnostic tests, Lynda and her husband, Dale, learned that their son had a rare, central nervous system disorder called Pelizaeus-Merzbacher Disease. It's a progressive condition that has slowly but surely robbed Derek, now 19, of most of his motor skills.

Today, Derek is unable to walk, talk, or even sit up on his own.
"Mentally he's fine, "says Lynda. "But he's trapped inside a body that's failing him."

What has helped this New Gloucester couple cope with Derek's deteriorating condition is the support of friends, their church and The Jason Program.

"We feel like they're family," says Lynda, referring to JP Nursing Director, Greg Burns, and social worker, Kelly Olson, who both make regular visits to the Rosengren home.

Lynda says they first contacted The Jason Program last spring when Derek's condition took a sudden turn for the worse. "He was having trouble breathing, and it really scared us," says Lynda.

JP's medical team, under the supervision of Dr. Gary Allegretta, helped the family adjust Derek's pain medication so Derek could breathe easier. As a result, so could they. "I just can't say enough about their support, compassion, and knowledge," says Lynda.

Despite the enormous challenges the Rosengrens face, Lynda says every day with their son is a gift.

Once told by doctors that their son wouldn't live past the age of 10, Derek continues to show a zest for life. Even though he can longer talk, he still loves to laugh and recently enjoyed a trip to the Cumberland County Civic Center to watch a bull riding competition.

"I just want to say thank you to everybody at JP" says Lynda. "I can't picture them not being in my life .