About US
THE FOUNDER
Pat Day-McCray embarked on an emotional and turbulent journey following losing her only child, Alicia. This profound experience drove her to dedicate years to researching family dynamics in communication between mothers and physicians, the grief experienced by mothers, and the developmental effects on children dealing with medical illnesses. Inspired by her research, Pat established several businesses and services to support these causes. She is a certified grief coach, bookstore owner, inventor, and speaker today.
Pat intimately understands the challenges associated with childhood illnesses as her daughter, Alicia Y. Day, tragically passed away at a young age due to complications related to Short Bowel Syndrome. At just 1-1/2 years old, Alicia underwent exploratory surgery, removing over 90% of her intestines due to gangrene. Alicia was left with a colostomy bag and was informed that she could no longer consume food, relying solely on intravenous feeding for the rest of her life. This feeding method took a toll on her liver, causing her eyes and skin to become jaundiced. Despite concealing her feeding line with clothing, Alicia faced numerous comments, questions, and stares from children and adults regarding her yellowing eyes and skin. It was these unfiltered reactions that sparked Pat's inquiries:
How could she help families converse honestly with their children without instilling fear?
How could she assist families in addressing the questions, comments, and stares their children faced?
How could she foster acceptance of children among their peers, families, and communities?
In response, Pat established the Medically Inspired Reading About Challenging Life Experiences (MIRACLE) Online Bookstore. The bookstore aims to promote acceptance, build self-esteem, and reduce bullying and suicide among children considered "different." MIRACLE operates as a B2B organization, providing children with explanations and introductions to real-life medical illnesses, conditions, and circumstances.
Beyond MIRACLE, Pat is a Certified Journey and Grief Coach and the CEO and Founder of PDM Journey Coaching (www.pdmjourneycoaching.com). Her coaching approach empowers and strengthens mothers to become gentle yet powerful advocates for their children in intensive care units. She also supports grieving mothers through her unique and proven methodology, which guides them from grief to gratitude, honoring and memorializing the lives of their lost loved ones.
As the CEO and Founder of A Pathway From Grief (www.apathwayfromgrief.com), a not-for-profit organization, Pat provides grief support, parenting skills, and techniques to African-American mothers in underserved communities. She aims to combat emotional and physical abuse while preventing premature deaths among black children.
Additionally, Pat is the inventor of Therapeutic Dolls, an innovative tool that helps children understand surgical procedures and encourages active participation in their healthcare journey. She holds a patent from the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) for this invention.
Despite her struggles with stuttering and a reluctance to engage in public speaking, Pat continues to deliver impactful workshops and presentations that have positively impacted countless women and families. As a divorced mother, she successfully raised three children, who have all become successful adults. Pat attributes her creativity, decision-making skills, innovation, and strength to her faith in Jesus Christ.
Pat often states, "My daughter's life gave me joy, but her death gave me purpose!"
Today, Pat finds fulfillment in helping children facing life challenges to accept themselves and live the lives they were meant to lead.
our mission, vision, values, & goals
Our Mission
We offer diverse books promoting acceptance of emotional, mental, and physical differences among children. Our books empower young individuals to embrace their unique qualities and live their lives to their full potential.
Our Vision
Our vision is to create a world where children can grow into productive adults without enduring emotional, mental, and physical scars caused by stares, verbal abuse, and physical mistreatment.
Our Values
We base our values on the following:
Promoting Acceptance: We strive to foster a culture of acceptance, celebrating children's emotional, mental, and physical differences.
Believing in Change: We firmly believe in the power of change and its potential to impact the lives of children facing challenges positively.
Serving Communities: We are dedicated to serving and supporting our communities, addressing the needs of children and their families.
Strengthening Pathways for New Leaders: We aim to empower and cultivate the next generation of leaders, providing them with the tools and resources to make a difference.
Ambassadors for Kindness -vs.- Bullies: We actively advocate for kindness and empathy, combating bullying and promoting a more inclusive and compassionate society.
Our Goals
MIRACLE contributes our ‘5-E’s’ as the driving force behind our goals:
Empowering parents: We aim to empower parents with the confidence and tools to effectively communicate with their children about medical illnesses, conditions, or circumstances.
Educating families: We strive to educate family members and support them in overcoming negative emotions such as anger, rebellion, rejection, and resentment. We aim to foster a sense of teamwork and unity within households.
Encouraging acceptance: We are committed to encouraging peers and community members to promote acceptance in classrooms and other community environments. We aim to create inclusive spaces where all children are embraced and valued.
Embracing conditions: We believe in embracing the state of being alongside the child, empowering them to face it with dignity, pride, and understanding. We aim to foster a positive and empowering mindset.
Ending bullying and promoting advocacy: We are dedicated to ending bullying and harassment, and we actively encourage the role of Ambassadors, advocating for children dealing with medical illnesses, conditions, and circumstances.
