Story
Apraxia Kids is an organization very near and dear to our hearts! This program truly gave us the resources, network, and support to help us find the voice for our sweet Mya! So how did we get here? Let me share our story!
When Mya was born, there were complications during labor and delivery. She had neonatal seizures for her first 2 days of life and was in the NICU for a long 21 days! Upon graduation from the NICU we were discharged with visits to neurology and invited to a program called ECI (Early Childhood Intervention) and were told it was just a matter of watching her development. Over the next 5 years we saw every doctor and therapist, it seemed, under the sun dealing with a variety of complications varying from genetics (all normal), allergies (severe milk allergy), optometry (two eye surgeries) ENT (ear tubes and removal of tonsils and adenoids) as well as speech, physical, and occupational therapy. Our on-going focus was speech therapy and we (finally) received a childhood apraxia of speech or CAS diagnoses around age 4. After so many various doctor visits with the answer “we don’t know why” it was a relief to have a diagnosis and we were immediately introduced to Apraxia Kids!
Fast forward, Mya is now 7 years old and is truly a ray of sunshine to everyone she meets! There is not one day that goes by in which we are approached by someone where Mya has touched their life in some way. We truly will never know if Mya’s journey is as a result of complications during childbirth or it is “just the way she is.” Either way, we are so grateful for her and feel truly blessed to be her parents! It’s not always easy, but getting plugged into Apraxia Kids has made all the difference and we are so grateful for this organization and the many SLPs, parents, kids, and volunteers we have met along the way!
I invite you to join in my efforts of spreading awareness about childhood apraxia of speech by also wearing blue on Friday May 14th, 2021.
I welcome you to support Apraxia Kids and their programs by clicking SHARE or GIVE NOW on my personal fundraising page.
I support Apraxia Kids and their mission to be the leading nonprofit that strengthens the support systems in the lives of children with apraxia of speech by educating professionals and families; facilitating community engagement and outreach; and investing in the future through advocacy and research.