"Just Hold My Hand": Mother of HUGE sports fan with special needs writes a book

MILWAUKEE (WITI) -- Sports fans come in all shapes and sizes. A special boy named Jacob never had a chance to be a star, but with the help of his mother, he's become a true MVP.

19-year-old Jacob is a HUGE Green Bay Packers fan!

He also loves hockey. He can tell you all about the Stanley Cup playoffs!

"Jacob has always loved sports," Jacob's mother, Karen Franco said.

Nobody in the world loves Jacob more than his dad Chris, and his mom, Karen Franco.

"Jacob has a chromosomal abnormality. He's missing a piece of his fourth chromosome, which has led to his cognitive and developmental delays. But it has also put him under the autism umbrella," Karen Franco said.

Over the years, Karen has spent many of her waking hours trying to figure out how to get into her son's world.

"I would say every day is an adventure, and I try to put myself in his shoes in different circumstances. You manipulate his surroundings to make him feel comfortable and to help him succeed," Karen Franco said.

As a loving, devoted mom, that's Karen's mission.

Another part of that mission is to try to help other parents who have a child facing challenges similar to Jacob's.

The journalism major decided to write a book called "Just Hold My Hand" -- published in March 2013.

"There's so many stories to tell -- some of them good and some of them bad, but I think helpful to a lot of families in the same situation," Karen Franco said.

Karen Franco's hope is that everyone who reads the book will come to understand what it's like to be in Jacob's world -- if only for a moment.

"I say that my book is a simple story with a big meaning. I find that it teaches understanding. It teaches patience. It teaches acceptance of people who are different. And I think Gabbie said it best: 'Stop judging!'" Karen Franco said.

Gabbie Jensen is a remarkable young lady who illustrated Karen's book two years ago -- when she was just 11 years old.

"She didn't even know at that point, but I did have a brother named Brennan, and he's got Down Syndrome," Gabbie Jensen said.

Jensen has two younger brothers -- Brennan and Bowen.

Jensen's special gift, combined with Brennan's challenges made her the perfect person to illustrate "Just Hold My Hand."

"A lot of times, when I was thinking about the wording in the book, I think about what sometimes happens to him," Gabbie Jensen said.

Marybeth Zuhlke has dedicated her life to teaching and working with children who have special needs. She has known Karen and her son since Jacob was in kindergarten.

Marybeth taught Jensen -- and she brought the two of them together for the book.

"What is so wonderful is the book isn't just for children who are autistic or have Down Syndrome. Any child can relate to it. The frustration. The need to hold their mother's hand," Zuhlke said.

"The feedback she gets, not only from the parents of normal developing children -- but parents of kids with special needs, grandparents, they are just extremely proud and very happy with the book," Karen's husband Chris said.

Time will tell if "Just Hold My Hand" becomes a best-seller, but what Karen and Jensen really want is for people who read it to understand what kids of all ages who have special needs go through every day.

"I just get really angry when people judge. I think they really need to be around someone who has special needs to understand," Gabbie Jensen said.

"Jacob was brought to me for a reason. I'm doing my very, very best -- we're all doing our best to keep him happy and healthy," Karen Franco said.

CLICK HERE to learn more about Karen Franco's book "Just Hold My Hand."