Finding the Right Therapies for Growth and Development
Jax's Journey with UCP
Early Days and Diagnosis
My husband and I were thrilled to learn that we were having a baby in the spring of 2013. Early in my pregnancy, we found out that Jax had markers for Down syndrome, which was later confirmed. We knew we would need to find a good support system to help us with his development, and we were thrilled when we discovered UCP when he was about 3 years old for physical therapy.
Discovering UCP
Up to that point, Jax had been receiving in-home therapies that were wonderful, but the UCP clinic gave him opportunities to challenge himself and experience new things like he had never done before. Right away, Jax fell in love with his therapist and the clinic.
Finding the Right Feeding Therapy
In 2017, we were in a position that required us to find a new feeding therapist. This was a scary experience because Jax has a feeding tube and had been 100% tube dependent since he was 4 months old. We hadn’t had much success with other programs thus far, and we were nervous about where to start with this process. I was excited when UCP notified us that they had an opening with a feeding therapist. From our first session, I was beyond impressed with the quality of the program and the therapist's ability to connect with Jax, challenge him, and meet him where he was when needed.
Adding Occupational Therapy
About a year or so after starting the feeding therapy with UCP, we decided to transfer Jax’s OT sessions to UCP as well.
Seeing Progress
Over the years, Jax has continued to develop his physical growth and has progressed so that he is able to confidently do the things he loves. With feeding he has come leaps and bounds and has moved from fearing food and hiding under the table crying in sessions, to orally taking pureed foods by mouth, trying new foods, laughing with his therapist, and proudly carrying in his food to each session eager to start. With OT, we have seen such growth in his motor skills as well as a new confidence in touching things that used to cause sensory overload.
Part of Our Family
We know that Jax will have many years of therapy to continue to strengthen his skills, but it warms my heart each morning when he sees the picture of the UCP on his visual schedule, and loudly cheers and jumps up and down. Knowing that Jax is so well taken care of during his sessions, that the entire clinic staff truly cares about him and the entire family’s experience, and that they are such a part of our journey is a true blessing to our family.
