My journey to Abilities United began over six decades ago when my parents had a baby boy, my brother. Shortly, before he turned on, he was diagnosed with congenital brain damage, a fluke of nature, the doctors advised. Two years later another baby boy arrived and,sadly, nature repeated itself. The boys lived short lives, succumbing to pneumonia. Looking back, I cannot imagine how my parents managed without the warm embrace and skilled services of a Chicago-based Abilities United, But there was no such agency. Little did my husband and I know that Abilities United would be standing by when our daughter delivered our first grandchild , three months prematurely. Fortunately, that tiny boy swam early on at the agency's Betty Wright Swim Center. Now he is a strapping 18 year old freshman in college! Our family will remain involved with Abilities United forever.