Matthew’s Story
This is our son Matthew. He is an amazing five-year-old little boy who enjoys reading, drawing, and playing tee-ball. Matthew also has autism. Our family could not be more proud of him, or more grateful for the quality early intervention we have received from the therapists at Wilson Pediatric Therapy.
We first knew something was different about our son when he wasn't meeting some of his developmental milestones, particularly in the areas of language and motor skills. We began speech therapy and soon added OT and PT services upon receiving an official diagnosis of ASD. The change in our son has simply been miraculous--I don't say that lightly--and much of the credit goes to his therapists and the entire staff at Wilson. Upon diagnosis, we were told that Matthew might never speak. We were told that he would most likely require lifelong care and not be able to live independently. These are scary things for any parent to hear. The staff at Wilson have not only walked every step of the way with our son, but they have been right there with us to support us as a whole family. Today, Matthew has far exceeded these expectations. He not only speaks, he reads! The kid has a vocabulary a mile long. He recently tested well above grade level for reading and vocabulary. He is amazingly funny, crazy smart, and the most loving little guy you will ever meet. He is making great progress with his PT goals, gaining strength, balance and stamina. We love watching him apply the skills he has learned on the tee-ball field. His OT has helped him develop a variety of motor, sensory, and social skills he needs to thrive in the preschool setting. He is learning lots and making friends.
We are also enormously grateful for the care and concern the entire staff at Wilson has shown during the pandemic. They have worked with us to keep Matthew and our entire family safe through telehealth. Even after the clinic reopened to in-person therapy, we extended telehealth a bit longer to protect Matthew's grandparents who were at increased risk. Even though I know it has been hard (I'm a teacher--trust me I know) they handled a bad situation with grace, flexibility, and creativity. They created PowerPoint presentations for his therapy goals that incorporated Matthew's particular interests such as Kentucky courthouses and landmarks around our state. This was above and beyond, and it motivated him during our time at home. They gave us practical ways to incorporate everyday materials we had at home into his therapy sessions and included us as partners in his therapy. We learned so much by participating in his care in this unique way. His telehealth sessions were impactful, interactive, and fun. We even made snow cream one day! When we transitioned back to in-person sessions, the staff took additional safeguards and remained flexible to ensure that we felt safe and comfortable. For that, I am forever grateful.
Wilson Pediatric Therapy is simply the best. Our family cannot thank Chelsea, Meghan, Keegan, Kresta, and the whole team enough for what they have done for our family. We can't wait to see how Matthew will continue to grow under the guidance and expertise of this amazing team.