06/03/2026
Meet the Buttie family -
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We’re Marci and Steve, parents to two incredible boys—Isaac (10) and Jacob (7). Both of our sons have complex medical needs. Isaac has Down syndrome and autism, and Jacob has Prader-Willi syndrome and autism. As we sometimes joke, our family could fill a “diagnosis bingo card”—but humor is one of the ways we keep ourselves going.
From the very beginning, our journey as parents has been intense. We knew before Isaac was born that he would have Down syndrome, but we didn’t expect how sick he would be. He spent weeks in the NICU and was so fragile that we didn’t know how long we would have him. When Jacob was born early, we faced another round of uncertainty, including hearing at one point that he might not survive.
Those early years shaped us. We quickly learned that advocacy would become a lifelong role and that “typical” parenting wasn’t our reality…
Jill’s House has given us a “tribe”—a community of families who understand our world without explanation. There’s no judgment, just shared experience and support. Most importantly, Jill’s House doesn’t just care for our children—it’s like they celebrate them. Every part of who our boys are feels seen, known, and loved. Jill’s House loves Isaac for Isaac, and Jacob for Jacob.
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Read the full story at the link in our bio!
