Music, milestones and memories

Meet Aria:

Aria was on the cover of last year's annual report.

Her name means "song" and her baby sister's name is Symphony.

Mom and Dad both have musical backgrounds. Mom's instrument is her voice while Dad's is the trumpet. Following in their footsteps, Aria is also musically inclined. She receives violin instruction at Brookstone and says that one of her favorite things in the world is music (oh, and reading - Aria reads 168 words per minute, and she's only in 3rd grade).

The lyrics of their family's story are filled with beautiful tones.

Mom (Italia) and Dad (Jameth) were married in 2003. Only one year later, while still newlyweds, Italia started experiencing blurred vision and an inability to walk. She remembers her legs feeling like "stiff bricks." After much testing and many doctor visits that year, she was diagnosed with MS.

Aria was born in 2006, two years after the diagnosis, and they soon moved back to Charlotte to be near family. In particular, they wanted to be near Aria's grandmother, Mrs. Karla Morgan who prayed everyday that Aria would love Jesus and have the best education.

Meanwhile, Mrs. Morgan was also in prayer for her sister, Donna Cloud, to find meaningful work and to be at peace about her previous school employer closing down. During that time, their mother encouraged her to apply at Brookstone and was hired in 2008. Donna currently teaches Bible class for K-5th grade and also operates the National Institute for Learning Development (NILD) tutoring program. Interestingly, Mrs. Cloud was also a music minor in college!

Donna Cloud with her niece, Aria

Aria began Kindergarten at Brookstone two years after her grandmother (and Donna's sister), Mrs. Morgan, passed away. Donna says that her sister's prayers for Aria to have the best education were answered and that she, too, is grateful for the experiences they both have here at Brookstone.

Mrs. Cloud wanted to share this story in memory of her sister in thankfulness for how she ministered to every life she came into contact with and how, even now four years after her passing, she and Aria are enjoying the blessing of her prayers.

What one word describes your family? "Supportive," Mrs.Cloud answered quickly. She said that they've overcome difficult obstacles, the loss of Aria's beloved grandmother & Donna's sister and a challenging diagnosis for Italia. Yet, with a smile and sense of sweet determination, she adds, "Jesus is the source of our strength." And as we finished the conversation, she echoed Italia's words, "...although my body has been attacked, I wait in hope on the manifestation of God's healing."

This family holds on to their faith amid every milestone. They sing with gladness.