Standing at the south boat ramp at Lake Holbrook and looking east, a splash of blue stands out among the green covering the hill. In an example of excellent advertising placement, that blue break in the trees reads in big block letters, “LIVE BAIT.”

It is the side of Billy Boughton’s bait shop, Kai’s Custom Jigs. Like many signs in East Texas, there is a story behind it – in this case several.

When the Boughtons came to East Texas from Fort Worth in 2017, they were not looking to start a bait shop; they were concerned with hospice care for Billy. The elder Boughton was suffering from a dire liver condition which earned him a shortened life-expectancy prognosis.

They had relocated, as many folks do, to be nearer to family. They purchased a small home on that steep hill just south of the causeway over Lake Holbrook and began renovations. 

The home offered easy lake access, views of the lake from the windows and a back porch.

As Billy’s wife, Mara, explained, “We are here because it makes Billy happy.” 

That was likely an understatement. As Billy stated, “I grew up on Benbrook Lake (just southwest of Fort Worth) fishing the Rocky Creek Marina.” He also has logged considerable time fishing Joe Pool Lake (near Cedar Hill) and Lake Arlington. Fishing was a part of him. 

After relocating to Lake Holbrook, a remarkable thing happened. Billy’s prognosis improved, dramatically. Although there were, and yet are, significant medical challenges, his body began to heal. 

“It was a combination of things,” he recounted, “but big changes in my living habits – especially my diet – had a huge effect.” Also in that path to restoration were long walks around the shoreline of Lake Holbrook with Mara and the calming effect of fishing. 

It wasn’t easy. An especially drastic bout of COVID set the recovery back a bit, but he weathered through. 

Billy had gone from researching the possibility of a liver transplant to entertaining other ideas about life, including opening a bait shop.

I had been driving to Alba to get my live bait,” he explained, “and thought, wouldn’t it be good to have bait available right here at the lake.”

The good will of others also played a role in that dream. In addition to the unfailing support of Mara, daughter Amaya and son Kai, others such as long-time bait shop proprietor Del Craig helped to make it a reality.

So it was that in 2021 ‘Kai’s Custom Jigs’ opened in the pole barn just below the house. 

Mara had selected the color blue as the eye-catching flair that would attract fishermen to the shop from the lake below.

“No one wanted the blue, but it was what I selected,” she laughed. An impromptu meeting with a painter in town resulted in painting the shop that day.  

Kai’s Custom Jigs was up and running. 

That story is just one of many surrounding Billy and his family. Billy admitted that he seems to be a cat with nine lives, as he casually mentioned having been shot while serving as a Texas police officer.  

After leaving law enforcement, Billy came to run his own ventilation cleaning company. A single parent raising three children, Billy met Mara in 2006 and they married soon thereafter.

“We both knew exactly what we wanted,” Mara explained, “and we both believe in what is important in life.” They welcomed daughter Amaya to the family and in 2012, son Kai.

The aforementioned medical challenges, relocation and opening of the jig shop must be understood with the background of Kai’s unique challenges. Billy and Mara’s second child was diagnosed early on in his development with one the most challenging conditions to afflict children: Periventricular Leukomalacia (PVL). 

PVL can cause a whole range of developmental effects as the condition results from degradation of brain matter. The exact cause of the condition is yet unknown, and Kai’s birth was associated with none of the characteristics which are usually seen in babies born with it. 

Exhaustive testing of Billy and Mara also revealed no identifiable cause. Kai’s development has not progressed beyond that of a toddler and likely will not.

He requires 24-hour care. There are eight other significant diagnoses that Kai struggles with, but PVL is the dominant one. The busy family of six became an exhaustingly-busy family of seven.  

The bigger story behind that live bait sign is the selfless, unquestioning love and dedication with which the Boughton family cares for Kai (now 12 years old). The perspective of the Boughtons was summed up by Mara: “My objective for Kai is to keep him at home forever.”  

A lifetime of toddler care for a physically-maturing young man is a herculean task. Billy acknowledged that, but stated without hesitation, “I want the very best for my son; he is my son.” 

It is impossible to capture the full range of emotions, depth of compassion and sacrifice which is associated with such care. 

A hint was offered as the two were discussing the many attributes of their son – which included a clever sense of humor, an eye for the ladies and an amazing verbal ability.

Mara shared, “Being different doesn’t have to be a disability.”

Billy said that he feels comfortable in his role.

“I have always been a protector for people of special needs,” he noted. Billy’s mother worked for the then-named Fort Worth State School for Mental Health and Mental Retardation.     

A career educator of pre-K and primary school-aged children, Mara likewise has experience which serves her well in Kai’s care. 

She has also not stopped learning. Mara has certified in teaching special needs children, maintains a blogsite ‘livingthespecialneedslife.com’ and in 2021 published ‘Moving From Strength’ – an affirmation of one’s identity for parents of special needs children.   

The book is an unapologetic journey taken in the life of a special needs caregiver.

As Mara writes, “When I first became a special needs caregiver, I looked around for a book like this and couldn’t find one. So I wrote one. I hope that it gives you peace, a sense of direction and most importantly, the knowledge that you are OK.”

In just over 100 pages, Mara describes the psychological challenges faced by caregivers and she does it in a respectful, neighborly and empathetic way. It is above all else a practical guide to managing stress and building confidence in one’s decision-making.  

The book is chockfull of concepts which could be life-savers. Examples include techniques for dispensing with fear, developing confidence in navigating the world of modern medicine, accepting reality and responsibility in a constructive way and lastly recognizing those ‘gifts in disguise’ which are special needs children.

And Billy was right beside her. As Mara credits him, “You led me by example and showed me that the new normal was not only going to be OK, but amazing.”  

This is, of course, only part of the story of Kai’s Custom Jigs. It plays out every day in the lives of the Boughton family, and in the community of Mineola – a community which Mara described as one of the most accepting communities she has ever seen.