Micah was blessed to attend his third Night to Shine event last weekend with his dear friend, Kim. For those of you who are unfamiliar with this event, look up Tim Tebow, as his foundation has been putting on these prom events for people with developmental needs for several years now. It is an amazing organization. I had lunch with a good friend the other day and she reminded me how I had been a nervous wreck when Micah went to his first Night to Shine in 2019. That event was held at a local church in Manchester. I knew some of the volunteers, but it was a big step for Micah to go into an event where he did not know anyone. Night to Shine events are very well organized with volunteers who are assigned to each attendee to accompany them for the night. At the 2019 event, parents were asked to stay in a reception room where we were on call as needed. The goal was for all attendees to feel loved and celebrated. Micah had never been to a dance or prom before 2019, and I was afraid the noise and new surroundings would overwhelm him. The reality was that I was more overwhelmed than Micah, he had a great time and I am sure, was happy not to have his mother in the room. Micah attended Night to Shine again in 2020, with a new volunteer. He seemed to have a good time, but, that year, I was summoned from the parent waiting area about halfway through the evening as Micah wanted to leave early. My best guess was that he had a headache, but that was before his breakthrough in communication via Spelling to Communicate. (S2C) so I was not able to ask him why he wanted to leave part way through the evening.
For the next few years, I missed the sign-up window for the events in New Hampshire, so Micah did not attend. But this year Kim asked if she could take Micah. I asked Micah and he confirmed that he did indeed want to go with Kim, so we got out his formal clothing that he last wore at his brother’s wedding, and off they went to dinner and Night to Shine. The prom that Kim took Micah to was held at Emmanuel Church in Rochester, a new location with a whole new group of amazing volunteers working together to create a night of great memories for their guests. Kim is a human sunbeam, a treasured friend who has known Micah since he was a little boy. He is very comfortable with her, which helped to make the night extra special for both of them. This year I did not wait in the parent reception room as I had full confidence that with Kim, Micah would be fine without me loitering nearby. The photos show that he was more than fine! Micah is often very hard to photograph, but the photos and videos from that evening are remarkable as they show his pure happiness as he danced the night away with Kim.
There are no adequate words to thank Kim, all the volunteers who hosted the evening, and the Tim Tebow foundation enough. Their gift of a lovely night out for their guests is a priceless testimony to their caring hearts and to God who sees the value in all people. Kim and Micah are already making plans to attend in 2027. What a special blessing to know that he has this event to look forward to attending next year with his treasured friend.
Jan Lessard Peightell, February 18, 2026
