Victoria

Sorcyre Noriega’s pregnancy had been progressing normally, with no complications—until her daughter was born at just 27 weeks. On May 17, 2018, Victoria Zerlin-Noriega entered the world, weighing only 2 pounds, 6 ounces. Following her premature birth, Victoria faced several challenges, including multiple gastrointestinal issues that required several surgeries, and a brain injury known as periventricular leukomalacia (PVL), a condition that affects premature babies. Victoria was later diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy (CP), which is a group of neurological disorders that affect movement, muscle tone, and coordination. It is caused by damage to the brain, typically occurring during fetal development, childbirth, or shortly after birth. CP impacts a person’s ability to control their muscles, which can lead to challenges with movement, balance, and posture. There are several types of cerebral palsy, each affecting people in different ways. Victoria has spastic CP - the most common type - which causes muscle stiffness and tightness. Cerebral palsy affects over 500,000 people in the United States alone. Globally, it is estimated that about 1 in 345 children are diagnosed with CP, making it the most common motor disability in childhood. While CP is a lifelong condition and there is no cure, treatments such as physical and occupational therapy can help manage symptoms and improve quality of life.

From the time she was 2 months old until she turned 3, Victoria received home-based therapy services through a local organization called PermiaCare. At age 3, she transitioned to MCRC and, for the next several years, received nearly every type of therapy MCRC has to offer. Through hard work and perseverance, she reached significant milestones along the way, including learning to eat solid foods, gaining torso control, sitting upright for extended periods, using a wheelchair, and improving her flexibility and range of motion.

Victoria is an incredibly bright, kind, and cheerful little girl with a great sense of humor. She loves to share jokes with her therapists and teach them Spanish during her sessions. A first grader at a local public school, Victoria also enjoys bedtime stories, hugs, drawing, making crafts, singing, playing soccer with the TOPSoccer Midland league, and dancing through MCRC’s Unlimited Dance program. Her contagious smile lights up every room and spreads joy to everyone she meets. This past December, Victoria began an intensive therapy rotation with the goal of becoming more independent. Her main objectives included improving torso control, sitting up on her own, walking with or without equipment, and being able to push her wheelchair independently. Her physical therapist, Kelsey, said, “Victoria has made incredible progress during this intensive rotation. At the start, it was difficult for her to stay standing in a walker, but now she can walk almost entirely on her own for up to 100 feet, with a few breaks along the way. We’re so proud of how far she’s come in such a short time!”

Victoria’s parents, Sorcyre and Ibrahim, are her biggest supporters. They are always by her side, offering encouragement and celebrating every achievement. Sorcyre even volunteers at MCRC as a way to give back to the place that has made such a difference in their lives. “The therapists at MCRC always find opportunities where others see obstacles,” Sorcyre shared. “Victoria has gained independence and confidence, and she can do more on her own. Programs like Unlimited Dance Company have also given her the chance to make new friends. We’re incredibly grateful for all the love and support we’ve received from Victoria’s therapists and the entire MCRC team. MCRC has truly been a blessing in our lives.”

With Kelsey's assistance, Victoria was recently fitted for a new walker for her to use at home. She is making steady progress and will soon resume physical therapy at MCRC twice a week, alongside starting a new intensive occupational therapy rotation. Victoria is determined to keep moving forward and reach new goals—always with her signature smile and some giggles and jokes thrown in for good measure.

Intensive Program

Why Did MCRC Introduce an Intensive Program?

Traditional therapy usually includes 1-2 weekly therapy sessions that are 30 minutes to an hour each; these can go on for months or even years before the child is discharged. With some diagnoses - particularly cerebral palsy, strokes, and other more severe neurological diagnoses - progress is very slow with the traditional model, and kids can end up coming to therapy for years on end with minimal progress. In recent years, the therapy world has seen more and more research indicating that these types of diagnoses show faster and longer lasting progress with a higher therapy dosage in short bursts with breaks in between. At MCRC, we decided to trial an intensive program of our own with kids coming for therapy 3 days/week for an hour and a half each day for 8 weeks. Three kids with varied levels of function were selected for this program to determine if progress would be faster with this approach. What we saw with each of these kids was that every single one made significant progress with core strength and endurance and faster progress toward goals.

One method used with each of these intensive trial patients was our Universal Exercise Unit (“spider cage”). This piece of equipment allows for a huge variety of activities where therapists can be more hands-off and kids can be more independent. The spider cage uses a system of bungees connected to a belt that helps a child to maintain a position, whether it’s sitting, standing, or even on hands and knees. This allows the child to feel more confident and the therapist to engage more with activities instead of having to hold onto the child as much.

Criteria for Participant:

• Patients who show limited or minimal progress in traditional therapy but would lose function without therapy

• Patients who have severely involved chronic conditions that do not benefit from receiving therapy only once or twice per week

• Patients must have clearance from their doctor for safety

• Patients must be able to tolerate at least one hour in current therapy

• Patients may be considered after a recent surgery if it would improve outcomes

Intensives Led By:

Kelsey McDonald, P.T., D.P.T.
Jessica Neves, O.T.R., M.O.T.

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Meet the Intensives Kiddos

Hannah

MCRC client for 12 years

Diagnosis: Hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy (HIE)

Lack of in clinic therapy during COVID pandemic resulted in severe postural abnormalities and severe scoliosis.

Goals: Posture/Wheelchair Propulsion and Transfers/Improved Breathing Pattern

Results:
Scoliosis: Decreased curve, increased abdominal tone & decreased pelvic obliquity
Lumbar Lordosis: Decreased lumbar spine curve & increased core activation

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Weston

MCRC client for 2 years

Diagnosis: Spastic Quadriplegic Cerebal Palsy

In traditional therapy, he was showing slow/very limited progress in OT and PT.

Goals: Posture/Sitting Balance/Tolerating the Prone Position/ Head Control

Results:
Hip Rotation: Decreased hip rotation & improved lengthening in body
Prone: Improved head support & decreased thoracic rounding

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Callahan

MCRC client for 2 years

Diagnosis: Aicardi Goutieres Syndrome

In traditional therapy, he was showing slow/very limited progress in OT and PT.

Goals: Posture/Sitting Balance/Tolerating the Prone Position/ Head Control

Results:
Standing: Decreased rib flare, decreased gap under lumbar spine, and improved tone in abdomen.  

Landry

In early 2021, Briley and Alexis Leggett found their lives in an unexpected trajectory. Their 10 month old daughter, Landry, was diagnosed with Neurofibromatosis Type 1 (commonly known as “NF1”), a rare genetic disorder that causes benign tumors to grow on nerves throughout the body. NF1 occurs in about 1 in every 3,000 births and is most often diagnosed in childhood.

Throughout the first year of her diagnosis, Landry underwent an MRI every few months to monitor for tumors and - if tumors were present - to monitor the growth. Unfortunately, an MRI confirmed that Landry had two low grade optic glioma tumors on the nerve that runs from the eye to the brain, and they were increasing in size…making the possibility of chemotherapy become a reality. A 54 week chemotherapy regimen began on January 7, 2022. 54 weeks of pain, pokes, stress, tears, out of town doctors appointments, therapy sessions, infusion rooms, missed events, and many, many prayers. After a full year of chemotherapy that resulted in significant shrinkage of the tumors, Landry happily got to ring the bell at Cook Children’s Hospital and say, “Peace out, chemo!”

When the Leggetts found out that NF1 can also delay physical and behavioral development, they were even more overwhelmed. As expected, Landry was delayed in walking and in speech. Her parents said that it was obvious that, even at an early age, Landry knew she was behind and not on the same level as other kids. She was quickly losing confidence. This was incredibly difficult for her parents to watch, but luckily that is when MCRC stepped in and became an instrumental part of Landry’s life. Since starting therapy almost three years ago, Landry has taken part in almost every type of therapy that MCRC has to offer. Her favorites are hippotherapy and therapeutic dance (she rocked it during the Taylor Swift-themed dance recital this spring!) She is growing each week in confidence, strength, and abilities…all thanks to MCRC and her amazing therapists.

Her physical therapist, Katie, said, “Landry is a sweet & active girl who has made major improvements in her physical abilities. She has met several goals in the past few months in the aquatic environment including balance, following multistep commands, and her jumping skills. I loved watching her grow during her time in our dance program. She is always the first to make a new friend or give us a hug anytime she sees her therapists!” Landry has also made great progress towards her articulation goals during the 6 months she has been in speech. Allison, S.L.P., said, “The amount of energy she brings into my therapy room is unmatched! She is the most joyful little girl and is so excited to come to speech each week. I am so proud of the progress she has made.” In occupational therapy, Landry has conquered so many goals while working with Susan. “Since she was evaluated in early 2023, her fine motor skills have improved from scores in the poor and below average range to scores in the average range in both areas tested! She is an inquisitive young lady who constantly seeks out new things, asks excellent questions, and is very observant. Landry is also quick to notice if a child is having or might encounter difficulty and stops to offer her assistance!”

Moving forward, the Leggetts will continually monitor Landry with an MRI scan every few months to ensure no new tumors show up and that the ones she does have don’t start growing again. In the meantime, four year old Landry will continue to light up any room she enters and approach each day with her joyful, bubbly, and energetic personality. Her mom said it best: “God is good, difficult times bring out the best in all of us, and…chemo is tough, but Landry Ellen is tougher!” She IS a tough kid and we are excited to watch her continue to grow and shine.

Remi

“From her first day of therapy at Midland Children’s Rehabilitation Center to today - only one year later - Remi is a completely different kid.”

Remi Hanks’ mom, Laura, reflects on her daughter’s 2 ½ years of life with awe and gratefulness…and hope. When hearing about Remi’s journey so far, you can’t help but notice that numbers have defined her life. She was born at 25 weeks, weighing less than a pound at 15.5 ounces and measuring only 10.75 inches long (picture a ruler in your head for perspective.) Her 10 tiny toes looked like little grains of rice. At only 9 days old, Remi had Patent Ductus Arteriosus (PDA) surgery to correct a congenital heart defect. Physical and occupational therapies began at 4 months old. At 5 months, a traumatic incident occurred when she aspirated while drinking from her bottle, and she was airlifted, sedated for a full week, and revived several times. She had a central line inserted at 6 months old. The first 9 months of her life were spent fighting in the NICU and she used a NG tube for feeding for the first 11 months of her life. Remi was also intubated twice and used oxygen for 14 months. During her time at MCRC, she has received 5 different types of therapies. Chronic lung disease, nystagmus (a vision condition defined by rapid, uncontrollable eye movements that affect vision, balance, and coordination), and feeding issues further complicated these early years of her childhood. To say Remi is a miracle and a survivor is an understatement.

When Remi started coming to therapy at MCRC last spring at 1 ½ years old, she was significantly delayed with feeding and all developmental milestones. She could not tolerate tummy time, loud noises, or textures, and she could not walk or crawl. Her Physical Therapist, Katie, said, “Her progress for PT includes improved balance and overall gross motor skills including walking, throwing, and crawling. She can participate with peers, has shown huge improvement in her independence, and lets her sweet & fun personality shine through her sessions!” Katie also said that Remi does an amazing job in hippotherapy and has demonstrated improved core strength throughout her time here. At the beginning of her MCRC journey, Remi had a hard time leaving her mom for therapy sessions; now, she runs to her therapists, holds their hands, and blows them kisses.

For Occupational Therapy, her OT, Michelle, said, “Remi has gone from not wanting to interact with others or engage with toys to playing with anything appropriately that you put in front of her! She now has age-appropriate fine motor development skills and has significantly improved her sensory modulation skills in relation to tolerating various textures and tolerance to playground equipment; this has greatly enhanced her socialization and play skills.” Michelle added, “She makes me laugh with her sweet little sounds and it has been a pleasure to see her personality blossom this past year!”

Today, Remi is thriving and doing most of the things a toddler loves to do – watch learning videos by Ms. Rachel, explore, play with toy cars, sing, and “make” music. She is a cheerful, sweet, determined, and loveable little girl. On March 6, 2024, she had her first graduation from therapy (with more to follow), and she will soon celebrate her third birthday with a “Grand Three (Prix!)” race car themed party. Although Remi has experienced a great number of challenges and medical diagnoses in her (almost) 1,000 days of life, she continues to push forward and beat the odds. She is lucky to have the support and love of her parents and family, as well as the dedication and knowledge of her therapists, to guide her along the way. They will continue to cheer for her and be there to hold her hand when she needs it. And in the end, she will come out stronger and more resilient and will continue to be – as her mom calls her – a “little warrior”.

Rob

In a lot of ways, Rob Dolan is your average 13-year-old kid...a teenager navigating the halls of junior high and a sports fan keeping up with his favorite collegiate team (Texas Tech Red Raiders!) He loves 3D printing, baking, cooking, traveling, and ALL things Marvel. He is a gamer, a taekwondo student, and the football manager at his school. But unlike most 13-year-old kids, Rob is also a cancer warrior.

In the spring of 2021, Rob was diagnosed with medulloblastoma, a cancerous brain tumor that starts in the lower back part of the brain. Primarily a childhood disease, this type of cancer is rare and affects only 350-500 children and adults in the U.S. each year. It is, however, the most common type of cancerous brain tumor affecting children.

In addition to having surgery to remove the tumor and receiving nine cycles of chemotherapy, Rob also received 30 proton therapy treatments (a form of radiation treatment used to destroy tumor cells) on his brain and spine. All of this treatment was done within the course of one year. After the removal of his tumor, Rob developed posterior fossa syndrome which greatly affected his muscle coordination, balance, and fine motor skills. He started coming to therapy at MCRC at this point, receiving both physical and occupational therapy and later participating in the taekwondo and therapeutic riding programs.

In the past two years, the staff have witnessed remarkable advancements in various aspects of his physical development. When Rob first started coming to MCRC, he was very unsteady with walking and was not able to do any running, jumping, or hopping. His endurance was very low and he needed frequent rest breaks. Post-surgery, he couldn’t even walk. Now he is running, jumping, earning new stripes and belts in Taekwondo, and mastering horsemanship in Therapeutic Riding.

His occupational therapist, Elizabeth, said, “Rob has consistently demonstrated a strong commitment to enhancing his strength, balance, coordination, visual motor integration, and manual dexterity. Rob’s dedication to his therapeutic journey has been truly inspiring as he continuously pushes himself beyond his limits, always striving for more. His determination to excel, not only in therapy but in all aspects of life, is truly commendable.”

Throughout his cancer battle, Rob displayed SO much heart, resilience, and positivity, and he made an impact on everyone he encountered. He loves Jesus and he loves his family, and this shines through in his life in so many ways. After completing his treatment in the fall of 2022, Rob decided he wanted to be a pediatric oncologist just like the doctors who took care of him. Rob and his family are fierce advocates for kids with cancer and doing what they can to raise awareness about childhood cancer and raise funds for pediatric cancer research.

On September 12, 2022, Rob — accompanied by a light saber (in true Rob fashion) — rang the bell at Covenant Children’s in Lubbock. He has been in remission for a little over a year and he is absolutely thriving. His mom, Mara, said, “The bonds Rob has made with Kelsey, Laura, Elizabeth, Gwen, and so many others are priceless. He has had a team that has rallied around him, encouraged him, pushed him, and wanted nothing more than to see him succeed. His therapists at MCRC are just as invaluable as the neurosurgeon and oncologist who saved his life. I hope more members of our community will find time to volunteer at MCRC. Our community has been blessed with an amazing facility that advocates for so many kids!”

Rob has touched many hearts throughout this journey and we can’t wait to see what he accomplishes next. We are so proud of this cancer warrior!

Olivia

Olivia Ornelas has been a firecracker since the day she was born. Even though she is only three years old, she has showed so much fight, resilience, and tenacity in her few years that Olivia’s parents lovingly refer to her as their “honey badger”. A traumatic birth experience left Olivia with a brachial plexus injury (Erb’s Palsy) which damaged the nerves in her left arm and left her with zero movement or functional use in that extremity. The brachial plexus is a complex network of nerves that sends signals and information to the body. This type of injury occurs when these nerves are stretched, compressed, or in the most serious cases (and what happened to Olivia), torn away from the spinal cord. Olivia’s parents, Christabelle and Gonsalo, were overwhelmed with the prognosis and turned to Midland Children’s Rehabilitation Center for help.

Olivia had her first evaulation at MCRC at only two weeks old and began working with Physical Therapist, Brooke, soon after. When she was four months old, she underwent an eight hour nerve transfer surgery at Texas Children’s Hosptial in Houston to repair some of the nerve damage. The surgery consisted of harvesting nerves from both legs and transplanting them into the arm. Unfortunately, Olivia was left with permanent damage and the surgeons were uncertain of what remaining arm function she would have or if she would be able to attain new movement. This is when her journey at MCRC really began. After the surgery, she began seeing Occupational Therapist, Leigha, in conjunction with her physical therapy with Brooke. Her therapy focused on assisting the left arm to be included during all gross and fine motor activities in order to faciliate new voluntary movement in the arm.

After three years of weekly therapy at MCRC and daily exercises and stretching at home, Olivia has made incredible gains and has overcome obstacles her parents had never thought possible. They attribute every little success to the fearless child they are raising, but also to the two women who have been her biggest cheerleaders since day one: her therapists, Brooke and Leigha. From the beginning, these ladies took a proactive approach and were in constant contact with Olivia’s doctors to make sure she was receiving the best possible care and therapy for her injury. Her therapists credit Olivia’s persistence and fierce personality to her adaptability, but also her parents’ dedication to completing the daily exercises in their home. “The parent carry over piece is SO pivotal and has made the difference between little use of the arm to phenomenal results and ability,” said Leigha Foote, O.T.R.

Olivia’s parents are grateful to MCRC for giving their daughter confidence and helping her accomplish tasks that once seemed impossible. The family knows that Olivia has a long road ahead of her - including the likelihood of additional surgeries - and that she will face challenges every single day. But they also know that Olivia has the tools, personality, and the support of her family and therapists at MCRC to get her through any obstacle. They are so proud of Olivia and all that she has overcome; she has such a bright future ahead of her. We can’t wait to see what more this little “honey badger” can do!

Taekwondo

Taekwondo was introduced in the summer of 2021 as an addition to the Unlimited Dance Company at MCRC. The martial arts group led by our instructor, Laura Buzbee, has provided both therapeutic and social gains for the boys involved. The group has grown to include six martial artists from different backgrounds and diagnoses from our therapy programs. Taekwondo serves as an additional form of therapy and a continuation of therapy for those who have graduated, but who still benefit from the physical and social interaction. This extracurricular at MCRC has provided an inclusive outlet for boys who may not otherwise be able to participate in traditional martial arts programs.

Taekwondo is a martial art derived from the Korean art form of punching and kicking for self-defense. The physical benefits involved in learning taekwondo are many including improving flexibility, balance, posture, strength, motor planning, and endurance. In addition, martial arts can improve mental health by increasing self-esteem, focus, confidence, concentration, and self-discipline. Laura has seen firsthand how the use of this martial art form has benefited physical, mental, behavioral and social aspects for each of the participants, she shared, “Each of the students in our taekwondo program has shown such strength and growth in so many ways, and I feel very honored and humbled to be part of such a unique and forward-thinking program. MCRC is an incredible place, and we are fortunate to be able to provide this outlet within a program where students learn to know as well as show their own mental and physical strength and capabilities. They are all strong, competent, kind, and respectful young men and they are learning with every taekwondo lesson how to achieve their goals. We’re so proud of our students!

The martial artists in the group recently earned their yellow belts after mastering the tasks in their belt test. Each of the boys involved has seen a direct benefit from the program, but one has particularly shown progress. LJ, who began therapy at MCRC in 2015 to address difficulties associated with his autism diagnosis has continued to grow because of his time in taekwondo. Laura shared, “He has increased in his confidence, the martial art form has just come naturally to him. I can see that he has learned respect and important social skills from being in the group.”

Tinley

“Being around other kids, she had felt like an outcast, but now she’s included at mcrc. she has much more confidence becuase of her time here.”

- sarah, tinley’s mom

In her early days, it was evident that Tinley would face adversities, but just by meeting this bubbly, enthusiastic, eight-year-old, you would never guess the challenges she has overcome. As an infant, she struggled to meet the expected milestones and underwent open heart surgery to have a pacemaker placed. At 15 months, Tinley’s parents were referred to a neurologist who diagnosed her with periventricular leukomalacia and cerebral palsy. This meant that Tinley would face difficulties with her motor ability and would experience muscle weakness. Many specialists that evaluated Tinley saw her as only delayed and were hesitant to provide intervention because she did not show severe signs of cerebral palsy. It was not until she was four years old that Tinley began receiving needed physical, occupational, and speech therapy treatment at MCRC to address her muscle spasticity and feeding challenges. Tinley began seeing her speech therapist, Caetyn, to find feeding solutions after suffering seizures from malnutrition. She also began physical therapy with Brooke, to treat her low-tone body, muscle strength, and core stability. The two, a dynamic duo, have found therapeutic solutions to combat the spasticity in her muscles. “She has worked very hard on that, she has taken the challenge. Not only has she done well in physical therapy, but she has also been in therapeutic dance and a group for toe-walking which all address her tone. She has had a lot of issues with tripping and falling and she has overcome that with the help of therapy,” said Brooke. This past summer, Tinley underwent a surgery called Selective Dorsal Rhizotomy to reduce spasticity in her legs and trunk. Though intensive, the surgery has proven to release the tension in her muscles and she is working toward relearning movements in physical therapy with Brooke and Jami. Brooke shared, “The surgery has taken away most of her abnormal muscle tone. The spasticity was what she was used to for her movement, but now she must re-learn how to use her muscles, specifically in her legs and her trunk. She has always had some weakness in her arms and her shoulders as well, and we are also continuing to work on that as the whole.”

For many children with cerebral palsy completing normal activities can be challenging and tiring. However, Tinley has taken the challenge of working hard to meet her goals and continues to amaze everyone around her. Her mom, Sarah, says, “She’s a lot more confident now, sometimes she would be embarrassed to do things that were competitive at school, but now she feels up to the challenge. Brooke has been amazing, she’s always willing to be there for us, and she’s also willing to put Tinley in her place.” Tinley has been involved in the Unlimited Dance Company at MCRC for four years and hopes to get back to dancing soon after she’s received the clearance from her doctor. We are so proud of Tinley’s hard work, and we cannot wait to see what is in store for her future! 

Sebastian

It is understood that a baby’s first cry is a sign of healthy lungs and breathing, but the room was silent as Sebastian came into the world. Sebastian was diagnosed with unexplained bilateral vocal cord paralysis. He was physically unable to breathe, produce sounds or receive nourishment on his own and there were no answers for why this occurred. He spent most of his early days fighting to breathe until his parents-to-be made the decision for him to receive a tracheal tube through tracheostomy surgery. At just two months old, it was evident that Sebastian was a resilient little boy when he showcased a big smile for his nurses following surgery. Shortly after moving to Midland from California, Sebastian became a part of the MCRC family to begin adjusting to his tracheal tube through physical and speech therapy.

When they came to MCRC there was finally a sense of hope after his foster parents, Sal and Angie were told that if the trach tube could not be removed by five years old, it would be a permanent need for Sebastian. Alongside his medical needs, his foster parents were also pursuing adoption so that Sebastian could have the best possible outcome. The goal for Sebastian’s therapy sessions became evident, working hard so that he could increase in strength, communication, and oral eating. Though he was delayed, Sebastian made quick progress in physical therapy with Kelsey by increasing his muscle strength and walking. Sebastian began working with his speech therapist, Jennifer, to find solutions to begin oral feeding and communication. Initially, these goals were accomplished through functional play using gestures and signs for expressive language. In addition, Jennifer began helping Sebastian to tolerate a Passy-Muir Speaking Valve. The one-way valve opened to let air in through the tracheostomy when Sebastian took a breath in and the valve closed during expiration, causing the air to follow the normal route and permitting speech through the vocal cords. With continuous work and sessions over the past two years, Jennifer was hopeful that the trach removal was a possibility due to his excellent toleration of the Passy Muir Valve. This huge milestone became a reality just before Sebastian’s third birthday. Removal of the trach tube was a huge relief to his parents who shared that this was a big event for them! They were so accustomed to making sure he was okay, and now he can be like other little boys his age. “He can just be a kid, he is free, he can be a three-year-old now,” Sal shared.

“He really enjoys being here, the staff has been awesome with him. It became a safe place for him, it gave him hope.”

-Sal, Sebastian’s dad

Sebastian’s parents shared that he can now communicate his feelings through his own voice. They feel that he has truly become more trusting, social, and open to others because of his time at MCRC. Before, he would be fearful of more needles and tests with nurses, but now he knows he is safe here. They are also happy to announce that their last procedure in the adoption process is finalized and they are finally able to share Sebastian’s story. This resilient three-year-old is now on the road to graduation and making more and more progress with enjoying new foods and using new words daily! His parents and speech therapist are hopeful that he will continue making progress in therapy so that he can attend school without delay. We cannot wait to see what is next in Sebastian’s journey!

Aamiyah

First graders are often known for their playful sense of humor and energetic personalities. Prior to her accident, the same could be said for Aamyiah. During Labor Day weekend festivities, Aamyiah’s world came to a screeching halt when she was involved in a tragic ATV rollover accident. The 6-year-old fractured the temporal and frontal bones in her skull and was on life support for 5 days. The days were long and many wondered if Aamyiah would survive. She proved to be a fighter during the most crucial period, and has remained fighting ever since.

Only two months after the accident, Aamyiah was released from the hospital and into the care of staff at MCRC. Our team immediately began planning for her arrival. The accident had caused issues with extensive swelling, facial nerve damage, vision impairments and issues with communication and mobility. After learning the expected outcomes, the future seemed daunting; however, her family was encouraged by the hope provided by staff at the center.

Despite the drastic changes to her everyday life, Aamyiah remained positive about what she could accomplish, never saying no to a challenge. Her bright spirit and desire to return to normal activities were the perfect recipe for success. Aamyiah’s team of therapists worked together to come up with a collaborative treatment plan. She began weekly therapy sessions of speech, occupational, and physical therapy and made rapid improvements in each, making her one of the quickest recoveries from a Traumatic Brain Injury that our therapists have ever seen. Her therapists focused their efforts on the paralysis of the right side of the body, as this affected her speech, ability to swallow and issues with balance and coordination. During her initial evaluation, Aamyiah was unable to clear her mouth while eating, trace a line, scan a room, or even walk for extended periods independently. The unusual challenges required unique treatments.

Her speech therapist, Juliana began using a treatment called e-stim therapy to allow muscles in her cheeks to wake up. This improved the symmetry in her face and gave her the skills needed to eat independently without concern. Juliana remembers how excited Aamyiah was to reach this goal, as her favorite foods were no longer an obstacle. The pair worked on her ability to orient herself in conversations, recall information, and regain executive functioning skills. These treatment goals differ from what many expect speech therapy to be; however, our therapists specialize in a variety of conditions to ensure that we are treating the child as a whole.

Her occupational therapist, Emilie, implemented fun strategies like using I spy books and arts and crafts. She made quick progress in recovering her handwriting skills and improving her ability to navigate the double vision caused by the injury. Similarly, in PT she worked alongside her therapist Jami to regain her balance, prevent any additional falls and to navigate the visual challenges that affected typical play. These accomplishments allowed Aamyiah to return to school, something she dearly missed! Only six short months after her first therapy session Aamyiah showed everyone just how far she had come, by celebrating a triple graduation day!

For many children with Traumatic brain injuries, the recovery can be a difficult and extensive journey. Aamyiah however was determined and has re-learned to walk, eat effectively, write clearly, and balance on various objects. These accomplishments are a testament to Aamyiah’s determination, the specialized care of her therapists, and the miracle that the 6-year-old is! We are so proud of Aamyiah and can’t wait to see all that she does next!

Kelvin

Kelvin was Born two months premature in December 2016 It wasn’t until he had missed several developmental milestones that KJ was diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy. KJ was only 8 months old at the time.

 “One doctor told us the he was probably blind and that he’d be in a wheelchair for the rest of his life. We didn’t believe that for a second.”

 It was then Mom and Dad sought out therapy for their son but their original option quickly became too expensive to manage. That’s when they heard that MCRC didn’t charge family and they immediately got Kelvin on the waiting list. Before he could begin therapy, the therapists and parents developed a treatment plan that would be atypical, with his treatment plan having multiple intervals based on key milestones. The first goal was to prepare KJ for a crucial surgery.

 Preparation and surgery can be hard for anyone but Kelvin, being just 1 at the time, had the fortitude to work hard. His rehab consisted of physical and occupational therapy catered to strengthening him for surgery – a surgery that would give him his biggest chance to walk – and the rehabilitation he would need afterwards.

 Surgery was a success but KJ wasn’t out of the woods just yet. After his body recovered, doctors cleared KJ to begin therapy – this time his goal was going to be to walk independently and eventually play outside! His therapists, Jami, Susan, and Kristal, were ready to get therapy started.

 “He’s progressed very well. It’s really been a team effort and his parents completely support what he’s learning at the center by continuing his therapy at home.”

 He visits the center 4 days each week for physical and occupational therapy - but there’s something else about Kelvin’s therapy that’s different from other kiddos therapy - something that’s unique to him and his family. Calf roping.

“All he does is watch videos of cowboys roping!” his grandmother proudly stated. “Everyone in his family rodeos and he comes from a long line of cowboys.”

 “Once we discovered what he liked, we started to get more out of him. He really started improving fast.”

Now, KJ ropes “steers” in hippotherapy which is strengthening his core and making neurological connections that give him the ability to have more control over his movements. Mom, is expecting great outcomes from therapy and believes her son will be roping like his dad in ten or so years.