Largo, FL - This week would have marked the 5th birthday of Jordan Belliveau.
He was the Largo toddler who died at the hands of his mother back in 2018, when he was only 2 years old.
The case made national headlines, caused changes in legislation, and lead to the creation of a non-profit aimed at helping mothers when they are overwhelmed and stressed.
We stopped by a special birthday party in his honor.
Chantala Davis wanted to make sure the day was special.
“I wanted to make sure it came out right and his pictures were on there and went around the box,” she said as she put up a cake decoration.
Back in 2019 she started the organization “A Mother’s Arms Inc” in honor of Jordan Belliveau.
She saw her own daughter struggle and knows first hand the difficulties of being a young single parent.
She’s come a long way and more people are learning about the mission.
“They love the idea knowing that these mothers have some place that they can go and actually get help with their stress and also get empowered at the same time,” Davis said.
Moms can get three hours to themselves in exchange for participating in sessions.
“They’re learning about themselves, why they think the way they think, where did they pick it up, what habits they have, what their parenting styles are,” she said.
As community members remember young Jordan and celebrate what would have been this 5th birthday, “A Mother’s Arms” is reaching out to show that there is somewhere for women to turn to.
“Hopefully they get their answers, but they see that there’s other women that have the same thoughts and our group becomes a family outside of a family,” Davis said.
So far they’ve been able to help 15 families and change lives before it’s too late.
“That was a very traumatic event that happened. So it’s nothing that should be forgotten, and it helps mothers not forget that could easily be you at one step of the dime of you getting extremely stressed out. It could easily be them,” Davis said.
For more informatiom about A Mothers Arms Inc. click here.