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"I was born without life," said 26-year-old Molly Towne in her brief memoir, written when she was 18. "With the doctor's help, my heart started beating after 15 minutes, but I was still a very sick baby."

Despite the difficulties she has faced from her situation, Ms. Towne still finds joy and strength in her faith. The title of her memoir is, "How God Takes Care of Me."

Ms. Towne spent her first few minutes in the world deprived of oxygen, resulting in brain damage. She then spent months in a coma. For the first year of her life, she was unable to see; she spent another year unable to use her lower body. She disproved her doctor's expectations merely by surviving.

But rather than focusing on the hardships she has endured, Ms. Towne prefers to focus on the things she's been able to do, everything she has learned and, most importantly, the people and schooling which have helped her do so.

Catholic only
For her parents, Susanne and Stephen, Catholic education for their six children was top priority: "We believe that education can only be truthfully presented in the light of Gospel," said Mrs. Towne.

The Townes knew that their daughter would need an environment where she would be supported and encouraged in her education as well as faith formation. So, in 1989, Ms. Towne began attending St. Clement's School in Saratoga Springs.

In seventh grade, she moved to Saratoga Central Catholic School. There, she played basketball, participated in choir and developed her literacy by reading to the Kindergarten classes.

Ms. Towne's memoir is filled with names of teachers and aides who helped her along: Miss Polsinello gave her a book called "Bread and Honey;" Mrs. Adams taught her how to sew. All of her teachers are referred to as friends.

Ms. Towne's unique program of education was made possible by the cooperation of the Townes, the two schools and the Saratoga Central School District. Because a formal special education program was not available at the Catholic schools, Ms. Towne's parents knew they had to seek the help of the local public school to support them.

Team effort
As a Catholic school student, Ms. Towne was entitled by law to receive special education services provided by the public school district. The tricky part, however, was organizing and planning this program.

Saratoga Central Catholic's principal, Ed Hammond, was determined that Molly be given everything she needed. As a result, the Townes attribute their daughter's incredible growth and inspiring faith to her Catholic education.

"Catholic schools have provided us with a place that supports and encourages what we try to teach our children at home: faith and a relationship with God and understanding God's great love," explained Mrs. Towne.

Although Ms. Towne did encounter situations where she sometimes felt different than others, her mother said that in Catholic school, Ms. Towne was not on the outside looking in. She participated, volunteered, played, and worshipped; she was in the middle of it all.

"Molly is proof and an inspiration," said Jane Kromm, principal of St. Clement's School. "It's often the perception that it's not possible for students with special needs to get a Catholic education, but this opens the doors to say, 'Why not?'"

Close ties
Mrs. Kromm is also one of the teachers who was most influential to Ms. Towne's development. When Ms. Towne was in eighth grade, Mrs. Kromm was the Kindergarten teacher at St. Clement's who suggested that she begin reading to her students.

Through reading Bible stories to the children and helping them complete activity sheets, Ms. Towne developed relationships with the younger students.

Today, Ms. Towne continues to help out at St. Clement's and still works beside Mrs. Kromm. She continues to read to Kindergarteners, but now she also helps in the school office, in the cafeteria and with the choir and folk group.

"St. Clement's is like a second home for her," Mrs. Towne said her daughter.

"The kids love her here," Mrs. Kromm added; "and she's always so willing to help. She is always looking to do more because she knows that, here, the day is focused on Christ and she is with loving, kind people who help her."

Ms. Towne ended her memoir by noting: "I hope what I have told says enough about all the good things I have been blessed with in my life and shows that it was a good thing that God gave my life back to me."

(12/16/10) [[In-content Ad]]

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