The IncRETTibles
— Jacqueline Babiarz

IncRETTibles

When Jackie Babiarz’s daughter, Cammy, was diagnosed with Rett syndrome at age 2 in 2011, Jackie became a point person for newly diagnosed Rett syndrome families across the country by providing guidance for marketing and fundraising, and by advocating for families with IEP meetings and transitions. Jackie also created a social media page with over 12,000 followers. She speaks to classes and schools about special needs, inclusion, and anti-bullying. Jackie is dedicated to helping families and strengthening communities. She and her family reside in Wheaton, Illinois. “The IncRETTibles” is her family’s journey with Rett syndrome.
Featured Post

Learning to view mobility aids and other medical equipment as vital tools

Having a child with special needs can sometimes feel like you are constantly dodging punches in a boxing ring. Yet you can’t throw any punches yourself; you’re just playing defense and trying to protect your child from the next challenge. Rett syndrome slowly robs a child of abilities many…

Finding the right time to begin the Make-A-Wish process

First in a series. My late daughter, Cammy, was diagnosed with Rett syndrome in 2011, when she was just shy of 2 years old. A year later, someone brought up the idea of referring her to Make-A-Wish, an organization that grants wishes to children with critical illnesses.

Life lessons from ‘Sesame Street’ and my late daughter, Cammy

My late daughter, Cammy, loved “Sesame Street” because it was the world she imagined for all of us. Kindness, patience, unconditional love, empathy, hope, and acceptance are just a few of the core values our family learned from the show, but we actually lived them with Cammy. Our daughter’s…

What my family and I learned from my late daughter

In her short 14 years on earth with us, my daughter Cammy taught my family and many others more about life than we could’ve ever taught her. She was more than a little girl who had Rett syndrome. She brought out the best version of everyone she…

A benefit concert to celebrate the memory of Cammy Babiarz

After seven months, we finally have a memorial set for my daughter. Cammy passed away last December, at the age of 14, due to complications of Rett syndrome. It took that long to figure out an appropriate venue with the capacity we think we’ll need for folks…

The decisions (some instant, some later) to do right by our daughter

As a parent, some time-sensitive decisions and actions need to be made when your child passes away. Before the death of my daughter, who had Rett syndrome, I knew that certain details needed to happen immediately. Nevertheless, I cannot imagine anyone is ready to deal with them when…

The coping tools that are helping as I grieve my daughter’s passing

Self-preservation. Boundaries. Circles. Comfort zones. These are practices I’ve learned during grief therapy. I’ve been implementing these coping tools since my oldest daughter, Cammy, passed away from complications of Rett syndrome last December. She was 14. After Cammy died, many friends and family encouraged self-preservation. They…

Traveling to New York without worrying about accessibility issues

Not having to make every decision around accessibility and special needs is definitely taking time to get used to. It has been six months since my oldest daughter, Cammy, passed away due to complications of Rett syndrome, and my mind still goes directly to figuring out how to…

What does it mean to experience expected loss as a parent?

I’ve been in grief therapy ever since my oldest daughter, Cammy, passed away last December due to complications of Rett syndrome. When I filled out the intake forms, a question really struck me: It asked if my loved one died unexpectedly. I sat there staring at it…

Navigating parental bereavement on Mother’s Day without Cammy

I’ve had several titles in my life: sister, daughter, mother, wife, teacher, and coach, to name a few. But the latest one isn’t something I think I’ll ever get used to: bereaved parent. I learned that there is a Bereaved Mother’s Day every year on the first Sunday in…

Documenting and sharing my daughter’s life with Rett syndrome

I’ve always been a shutterbug, someone who loves to capture moments with a camera. When I had my firstborn, Cammy, and bought my first smartphone in the spring of 2009, documenting her was only natural. I began taking weekly and monthly photos of her to track her growth. When…

When a dodgeball tournament uplifts a family — and a community

Shortly after our daughter Cammy passed away on Dec. 13 due to complications of Rett syndrome, we were approached by Joe Kish, the assistant principal at Franklin Middle School, our youngest daughter Ryan’s school in Wheaton, Illinois. He asked about designating Cammy Can, the organization we created to…