By Natalie Scott
When Jessica and Brandon found out they were having triplets, they were understandably overwhelmed. The family of four turned into a family of seven overnight. When the triplet girls arrived early, but safely, their parents were relieved. When they were a few months old, two of the three triplets, Klara and Maeve, each had a stroke at the same time, on the same day, in the same place, and it turned their world upside down.
The next several months were filled with fear, doctor’s appointments, more strokes that happened months later, diagnoses, and surgery that would help each little girl live a fuller life. The time for healing, regaining skills, and learning new skills had arrived, and the Cruz family knew where to go: Easterseals Delaware & Maryland’s Eastern Shore.
“We felt really unsure and scared. Nobody knew what to expect. We couldn’t look past one day. We were just trying to get through the day,” Jessica says. “Our older son Quentin received speech therapy from Easterseals, and they were great. I can’t imagine our lives without Easterseals.”
Before their second set of strokes, Klara and Maeve were active and enjoyed a wide variety of foods, like meatballs and pancakes. Afterward, they lost many of those abilities. With the support of Easterseals therapies, including feeding, speech, and physical therapies, both girls have regained lost skills and continue to build new ones alongside their siblings.
When the girls first started therapy, they were not coordinated enough to move their bodies. Today, the one-and-a-half-year-olds are crawling, rolling over, and sitting up for short periods. They are also making progress in tolerating different foods and textures and are beginning to communicate using a speech device.
“We thought they would never crawl. It was hard to see the light at the end of the tunnel. I could not see a future for them other than lying in a bed,” Jessica says. “Now, I am hopeful. I have seen what the therapists have done with the girls every week.”
Delaware & Maryland’s Eastern Shore has built a reputation as a trusted provider of children’s therapy services, specializing in treating children from birth through age 18 with a variety of challenges.
“Our therapists make us feel secure. Easterseals customizes the services to each family,” Jessica says. “I would tell other parents to be open-minded and be okay with where their child is. People focus on the problem. If I sat in that, I wouldn’t be benefiting the girls. Utilize the resources you have. Be kind to yourself and family.”
New assistive technologies, such as a stander, gait trainer, and speaking device, will be introduced to help the girls achieve their future goals of standing, walking, and communicating their needs.
“I have big goals for them. I want them to be able to enjoy sitting with us at the table. I want Maeve to eat that meatball again,” Jessica says. “With Easterseals, I know that is possible.”
Hundreds of children each year receive physical, speech, and occupational therapy through Easterseals’ statewide Children’s Therapy Services, including their location in New Castle. Easterseals plays a critical role in providing needed therapy for children with a variety of disabilities, whether short-term or long-term. Children with and without disabilities can find the highest-quality services designed to meet their individual needs. For more information about Easterseals Children’s Therapy services, call 302-324-4444.
Please visit our website and see all of our services for people of all ages and abilities: www.eastersealsDeMd.org.
100 Enterprise Place, Suite 1, Dover
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302-324-4444
Please visit our website and see all of our services for people of all ages and abilities www.EastersealsDeMd.org
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