Cammy’s first Communion was a special bonding experience

My husband and I both grew up Catholic and attended Catholic schools from the first grade through high school. Both our daughters were baptized. Because they attended public school, we had to look for outside religious education when it was time for them to receive their first Communion.

Unfortunately, the church in our local community wasn’t very accessible and didn’t have an aide for our late daughter Cammy, who had profound special needs because of her Rett syndrome. Before she passed away at the age of 14, Cammy required one-on-one assistance, 24 hours a day. Both her school and our local recreation program, the Western DuPage Special Recreation Association, provided an aide for her, but not for religious education. And neither of us was thrilled about the idea of me sitting with her during classes.

So when my mother-in-law, who had taught at a Catholic school for 30 years, offered to homeschool Cammy for her religious education, we were elated.

It was such a sweet bonding experience for Cammy and her grandma to work on the curriculum, which my mother-in-law had adapted to make it easier for Cammy to understand and apply to today’s world. I know Cammy got more out of working one-on-one with someone she loved and who knew her inside and out than in a classroom full of other students. They practiced receiving Communion with chocolate, which Cammy was more than happy to do. (I was a little concerned that she’d be disappointed on her big day, when the host didn’t taste like chocolate.)

Recommended Reading

March 26, 2025 News by Steve Bryson, PhD

Benefits seen with Daybue in Rett girls, ages 2-4, in DAFFODIL trial

Cammy had many options for dresses. My mom had given me the Communion dress she’d made from her wedding dress for my four sisters and me to wear during our first Communions. My sisters also passed along dresses their own daughters wore. A couple weeks before the big day, Cammy’s younger sister, Ryan, held a fashion show, trying on each dress for Cammy to select from. I was a little sad that Cammy didn’t choose the dress I’d worn a couple decades earlier, but I understood why she’d chosen a beautiful white dress.

We decided on another nontraditional approach as well. I’d expressed my concerns about Cammy’s anxiety and fatigue being exacerbated while waiting in a long line with other second graders. But the religious education coordinator had a suggestion: Cammy could receive her first Communion during regular Mass, which was the perfect way to alleviate our anxiety.

On May 21, 2017, Cammy received her first Communion. The priest announced that it was an extra special day, and instead of carrying or wheeling Cammy to the front of the church, he came to our row, broke off a piece of the host, and gave it to her. I was brought to tears when every parishioner who passed our aisle congratulated Cammy, either by saying something, shaking her hand, or offering a smile, nod, hug, or kiss.

Cammy was incredibly proud of herself. She looked gorgeous in her white dress and red, sparkly shoes. The tears of joy and pride in my mother-in-law’s eyes as her best student received her first Communion were the icing on the cake.

Note: Rett Syndrome News is strictly a news and information website about the disease. It does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. This content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website. The opinions expressed in this column are not those of Rett Syndrome News or its parent company, Bionews, and are intended to spark discussion about issues pertaining to Rett syndrome.