Genetic Disorder Support Leads to Independent Walking and Improved Fine Motor Skills

Aimee Holleb (00:03) Hi, I'm Aimee and this is Mati, and we live in Fairfax, Virginia. Before working with Good Beginnings, our life was a big unknown for us. Mati had just been born and diagnosed with a genetic disorder that we didn't know about when we were pregnant with her. And we heard of Good Beginnings once she got released from the NICU. When she was 3 months old, we came into the office and met with the director, and did an evaluation, and we were given hope about her future and her potential The office staff were filled with joy of wanting to help Mati thrive and giving us belief that her future was bright. What made us say "yes" to Good Beginnings first and foremost were the reviews that we had read online, and hearing about the practitioners in the office. What solidified our decision to begin with Good Beginnings was the joy and care that we felt when we first went for an initial consult. So, we were really grateful to work with Good Beginnings from the beginning as an infant where we had some flexibility to take her to various appointments at times that worked. As she then began public school, special education, preschool, we were a little bit worried that the appointments would compromise her ability to access preschool, and the therapists were great about working with us. What we tried in the past that didn't work for us was having in-home therapies. What we found is that when we started to come to Good Beginnings, the equipment access, the various toys that they had, Good Beginnings had great intention with any play-based therapy they were doing, to help Mati's progress, to help her meet her goals. So coming into a dedicated practice really helped us realize the value of that as compared to any home therapy that we might have considered. What surprised me the most about Good Beginnings is really believing that one, everybody there loves her and wants to push her to grow and improve and thrive, and two, the therapists have always seen Mati in leaps-and-bounds steps beyond where she currently is, and that she really responds to warm demanders who expect a lot of her. She just needs more time and more practice. So one of the ways that we as a family are thriving the most because of Good Beginnings is... both parents are able to be part of the The ways that Mati is thriving with her OT, she has a hand deformity, and I never thought that she would have kind of a pincer movement, and while it's not deep, she definitely can hold utensils and school tools in this hand in addition to using it as a helper hand for any activity of daily living that she needs help When she turned 5 1/2 she suddenly was walking independently for the first time. That was a game-changer both for Mati and for our entire lives because our child now independently walks with appropriate orthotics, and can be mobile all by herself. I have, I will, and I will continue to recommend Good Beginnings to other families - whether it's people I know or people I'm adding comments on Facebook groups who might be looking for a great therapist because of their care, their genuine love, and their genuine expertise that's proven to me in these 5 1/2 years working with them, and seeing Mati hit all these in-stones that I really never could imagine. It gives me great joy and honor to be able to share Good Beginnings with them. I'm very grateful and happy to keep other families realizing what it can do for them and for their children.