Because she lives with a nonverbal form of autism, teenager Rachael Slay missed out on many of the joys of childhood. When it came time for Rachael's school prom, her mom, Serrina, was determined to give her a night to remember.
Serrina posted a message on her town newspaper's Facebook page that she was searching for an appropriate date on her daughter's behalf, and the results far surpassed her expectations.
In addition to a young man contacting Serrina about escorting her daughter to the dance, town residents volunteered to help fund Rachael's dress, limo, and everything in between.
"I've found through Facebook that all of our stories, but somehow all the same," Serrina said of her use of the site as a support network. "I've been a parent to an autistic child for 19 years. Before Facebook, I felt so alone."
