WPS Announces Gracelyn June Johnson as 2025 A Week of Love Recipient
Washington Public Schools is proud to announce Gracelyn June Johnson as this year’s recipient of the A Week of Love (A.W.O.L.) for 2025.
The WHS Student Council recently asked the community for nominations for the annual community fundraiser. Nominees were required to be connected to the community and facing a medical or life-altering event that would benefit from community support. After carefully reviewing the submissions, Gracie Johnson was chosen as this year’s honoree.
Gracie is daughter of Michael and Mackenzie (Merrell) Johnson and has two brothers. She is the granddaughter of Steven and Kelly (Hill) Johnson, as well as Larry and Robyne (Beller) Cox. Her family has deep roots in the community, with her parents, grandmothers, aunts, and uncle, who graduated from Washington High School. Gracie’s mother, Mrs. Johnson, serves as the reading teacher at Washington Elementary, while her grandmother, Mrs. Cox, is the secretary at Washington Middle School.
Gracelyn was born with an ultra-rare genetic mutation that occurred sporadically; her condition is not inherited from her parents, and her siblings are unaffected. This genetic mutation can present a range of conditions with varying degrees of severity. Gracie has been diagnosed with muscle weakness, arthrogryposis, tethered spinal cord, and laryngomalacia, which requires a temporary feeding tube. She was born with hip dysplasia and dislocated knees, which were corrected through serial casting during her first two months of life. Gracie has already undergone three surgeries and is currently following a bracing regimen for her hands and wrists. Gracie receives care from multiple specialists and has several appointments each week, including physical, occupational, feeding, and craniosacral therapies. Due to her diagnosis of arthrogryposis, which causes joint contractures throughout the body, and a tethered spinal cord, she may require future surgeries and adaptive equipment to assist her mobility.
Though limited research exists on Gracie’s condition, early and frequent medical interventions and therapies lead to the best possible outcomes. Gracie’s family hopes to do all they can in her early life to support her in becoming the best possible version of herself. They aspire to be a powerful voice for her, passionately advocating for her and raising awareness about her condition. They believe that by sharing her journey, they can inspire hope and demonstrate that anything is possible through faith in Christ.
The Johnson family also wishes to express their heartfelt gratitude for the overwhelming support and love from the community for their beloved Gracie. They feel truly blessed to be her parents and are thankful for the precious girl entrusted to their care. Surrounded by a loving community, they find comfort in knowing that Gracie will grow up in an environment filled with love, support, and encouragement.
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