Parenting isn’t for the faint of heart.
And few — if any — had bigger hearts than Jeni and Matt Platte when, more than a decade ago, the La Conner couple adopted two children with special needs, providing them with a stable home and family life they otherwise likely would never have known.
But that foundation was shaken in April with the sudden passage of Matt Platte, 54, a longtime mental health therapist, while on a short vacation trip to the Oregon Coast with friends from high school.
Now Jeni Platte finds herself grieving the loss of her husband of 24 years while also managing the daily and often immediate needs of their teenagers Leo and Lily, each of whom has Down Syndrome and associated medical issues.
“I don’t know what our future will be like,” Jeni said. “It’s kind of scary. There are so many challenges and more tasks than I’ve ever checked off.”
Photo by Nancy K. Crowell/La Conner Community News
Jeni grew up in Seattle, and Matt was from Yakima. They had settled in Skagit County years ago because it was centrally located between counseling contracts Matt had secured in Snohomish and Whatcom counties.
Matt’s work as a therapist was deeply shaped by Leo and Lily, Jeni said. Parenting their children made him a strong advocate for clients with disabilities.
Since Matt’s passing, Jeni said she has not yet contacted support agencies or explored formal assistance programs. Her energy has been focused on day-to-day needs. To help with their most pressing financial concerns, a GoFundMe account has been set up for the family.
Financial challenges aren’t going away. Jeni closed her massage therapy business after Leo, now 14, joined their family at age two. Matt had been the primary breadwinner after working for the Tulalip Tribes and later opening private counseling offices. Returning to work now, Jeni said, is not feasible due to the complexity of Leo’s and Lily’s care.
“It would be hard with Leo and Lily’s needs,” she said. “Scheduling hours would be very difficult.”
The couple had always shared parenting duties. “Matt was a great partner with that,” Jeni reflected. “I would do the appointments and pick up the medicines and he would dispense them.”
Lily Platte shares a moment at home with one of the family’s pups. Photo by Nancy K. Crowell/La Conner Community News
Matt showed no signs of health issues before his death. “He’d had a physical a couple of months before,” Jeni said. “Everything looked good.”
He had been with friends in Seaside, Oregon, and had just finished dinner and were coming back when Matt paused to look at the water and collapsed. His friends later brought his car back to the Plattes’ home on Best Road, formerly the Downey House Bed & Breakfast.
“It was hard to see it come home without Matt in it,” Jeni lamented.
❤️ Let’s lift up our neighbors
If you’re moved to send Jeni, Leo, and Lily a card, letter, or piece of art, we’ll make sure it gets to them.
Email: staci@laconnercommunitynews.org
Mail: P.O. Box 1020, La Conner, WA 98257
Drop-off: 128 S. 1st St., Unit #6, La Conner
Monday–Thursday, 10 a.m.–4 p.m.
Leo seemed to understand something was amiss. He curled up and napped in the car. “He keeps asking when daddy is coming home,” Jeni said. “He and Lily are processing this. The reality is setting in for them.”
The family is working to help the kids process their grief. “We’re learning how to dive deeper into how to help them work through the grief,” Jeni said. “They’ve overcome so much already. It’s just amazing.”
Leo and Lily, both adopted from foster care, have made great strides since joining the family. Leo, who they first met in a Portland hospital, took his first steps at three and a half — about a month after Lily’s adoption. In the intervening years, the Plattes forged strong family and community ties, with the kids attending La Conner Schools.
These days, the kids find moments of joy in familiar routines. Leo enjoys jumping on the trampoline. Lily prefers swinging. Both love listening to music. And when Lily came home from school recently feeling down, the family’s dogs lifted her spirits. “Puppy therapy,” Jeni said, smiling, “is great.”
Jeni is weighing possible income options, such as renting out a bungalow on the property or setting up an RV hookup. She emphasized that any tenant would need to be sensitive to their situation, as the large, fenced yard is essential to the children’s safety.
Yard work is another challenge. With such a large property, Jeni said help with maintenance would be especially appreciated.
Finding dependable caregivers remains a pressing concern. “They would have to be dependable with a steady temperament,” Jeni said. “When the (kids’) behaviors emerge, they would need to know they’re not being victimized.”
Jeni is thankful for the help received thus far from family, friends, therapists, and medical professionals.
“We have a neighbor who has been terrific,” Jeni said. “She’s been picking stuff up and preparing meals for us. She’ll say, ‘We’re going to Costco. Can we get something for you?’”
Acts of kindness help Jeni keep appointments for Leo and Lily, including three visits this month to Seattle Children’s Hospital.
Jeni, Leo, and Lily navigating their new reality together.
“We don’t have a routine right now,” Jeni acknowledged. “Everything is so different.”’
Bill Reynolds: bill@laconnercommunitynews.org. Bill is a general assignment reporter who covers Town government, schools, and spot news.
