Please help us make a difference in the lives of children like Lynsey and her family who feel fortunate to have found the nurturing care PACT provides...
Lynsey
"Mommy, I can do it myself! Let me go!" says three-year-old Lynsey smiling with confidence as she struggles to stand and take a step. Unlike most of her peers, she does not have the ability to stand or walk without assistance. Born three months premature, Lynsey spent months in the neo-natal intensive care unit (NICU) and was discharged with heart and lung monitors. Soon afterwards, she began having infantile spasms, which required her mother Toni to administer injections to her every day.
As a one-year-old, Lynsey was diagnosed with mild Cerebral Palsy (CP) and developmental delays. Cerebral palsy is any of several disorders of the central nervous system resulting from brain damage before or during birth. It affects different muscle groups and is very likely to impact speech and language skills. Similar to other parents whose children receive an unexpected diagnosis, Toni did not fully understand the impact that CP would have on Lynsey's life. She was told that Lynsey would be at the same cognitive level as other children her age, but no one was able to fully answer Toni's questions about Lynsey's potential to talk and walk. Toni relied on the physical therapist that treated Lynsey once a week to gain a better understanding of the challenges of raising a child with CP.Toni enrolled Lynsey in a daycare center so that she could return to her weekday job. But Toni often had to work weekends to make up for time taken off to take Lynsey to therapy and medical appointments. Lynsey's daycare situation was not optimal either. Lynsey often sat propped up so that she could watch the other children run around and play. She was left out of many of the activities. Toni realized that Lynsey needed to be at a place that would challenge her physically and mentally. It was not until Lynsey was a year-and-a-half old that Toni discovered PACT: Helping Children with Special Needs.
Now enrolled at PACT, Lynsey continues to develop physically, mentally and socially. The World of Care staff expects her to participate in classroom activities, and Lynsey is eager to join in. PACT therapists, special educators and child care workers all focus on helping Lynsey maximize her skills; nurses monitor and address her medical needs. Most importantly, the staff works together to adapt activities to ensure Lynsey's full involvement in the childcare program. Toni is grateful to have found PACT for even more reasons...
The World of Care social worker and service coordinator have acquainted her with the many resources that are available to help her family financially and emotionally. When Lynsey is ready
to move to a school program, PACT staff will help her with Lynsey's transition.
Toni’s mornings begin at 4:30 AM and she spends many hours in the evening with Lynsey applying the therapy techniques she learns from the therapist. But Toni remains undaunted in her efforts to help her daughter, "Lynsey is such a blessing. She amazes me everyday by understanding things I never thought she would - thanks to PACT."
PACT is an affiliate of Kennedy Krieger Institute.
