For Matthew and Jen, their St. David’s Center experience had — and continues to have — a lasting effect on the entire family.
Every family’s path at St. David’s Center is their own, with joys and challenges. Recently, Emily Steffel Barbero shared her experience of the past five years with St David’s Center, which illustrates the strength so many families draw from this treasured organization.
Mikala's story is one example of the positive outcomes that result when all involved parties come together to redefine caregiving with the best interest of the child at its center.
The theme of transformation is a recurring one in 8-year-old Spencer Kennedy’s life. When Spencer was born, he was diagnosed with Down syndrome, as well as a congenital heart defect commonly associated with the syndrome.
When Cecilia was born, she was whisked away for the standard hearing test given to newborns. “She failed the first one,” recollects Bea. “She went for the next one, and she also failed.”
When Ridley was one, his mother Amber noticed that his newly developing vocabulary was somewhat limited. At three and a half, Ridley received a medical diagnosis of autism and speech sound disorder.
After Diego's autism diagnosis, his parents Jorge and Lulu sought services from St. David's Center upon the recommendation of a friend. Surrounded by a team of support, Diego's progress has been transformational. “For us,” affirms Jorge, “St. David’s Center has been a life changer.”
For the terrified little girl who once had no words to express how she felt, Halle now has plenty of words to describe the future she sees for herself.
A highly social child, Poseidon was caught between the push and pull of wanting to be amongst his peers but being unable to connect with them.
