No Stopping Ezra: How One Toddler Found His Stride
Pediatric Therapy helps Ezra explore his community on a new prosthesis, spreading smiles and awareness At her 20-week ultrasound, Jessie received unexpected news: her son, Ezra, had proximal femoral focal deficiency (PFFD). PFFD is a rare birth defect where the upper part of the femur is missing or not fully formed. While Ezra’s knee, calf, ankle, and foot...
Expanding Access to Pediatric Therapy and Inclusive Play for Children with Disabilities
The following article was first published by the Robins Foundation. To view the original version, click here. Partner Spotlights are a platform for Robins Foundation grantees to highlight their important work and for Robins Foundation to recognize the incredible efforts and successes of our partners. This month, our Administrative and Operations...
Specialized Support Leads to Success: Meet Jack
Jack’s diagnosis is rare. So rare, that only ten cases of Warsaw Breakage Syndrome have been reported worldwide! Luckily, Jack’s SOAR365 physical therapist is pretty rare, too. Sam Cipolla specializes in helping medically complex kids. “Jack is actually the one who made me realize that’s what I enjoyed,” says Sam. Ever since Sam’s first babysitting job at...
Giving Back to Pay It Forward
Dr. Joe and April Niamtu donate generously to SOAR365, where their sons received pediatric therapy. When parents first learn their child has a disability, it can be a disorienting experience. “You don’t know what to do. You’re lost,” says Dr. Joe Niamtu. He and his wife, April, are parents to two sons with cerebral palsy: Joey and Evan. When...
The History and Impact of the Betsy Haas Fund for Children
Cat and Jay Haas’s relationship with SOAR365 began as it does for many in our community. In 2006, they were new parents with many questions, few answers and an overwhelming need for guidance and support. Their six-week-old daughter, Mary Elizabeth “Betsy” Haas, was referred to SOAR365 (then Greater Richmond ARC) for physical and occupational therapy after...
Meet Justice
Melicka tearfully remembers her daughter Justice’s first five months: she couldn’t keep milk down, had trouble eating and was constantly vomiting. “We rushed to the hospital more times than I can remember and in fact, one time, on the way to the hospital, Justice stopped breathing, so I had to perform CPR in the car.” The doctors were finally able to...
Meet Mark
When Mark came to SOAR365 in June 2018, he didn’t speak or respond, he couldn’t identify himself or his mother, Yadira, he had little (if any) attention span and he couldn’t communicate what he wanted. Today, he’s a totally different little boy. “He knows his name, he knows my name, he can tell you his address and phone number. He can say his prayers,”...
Meet Caleb
When you first meet Caleb, you hardly get a chance to see the first grader … he’s a racing blur of speed. But once you catch up to him, it’s easy to see this little boy has a heart of gold. Caleb comes flying into SOAR365 (or PARK365) twice a week for speech and occupational therapy visits. Caleb’s mother, Valary, initially sought out SOAR365 because of...
Meet Ronnie
When he was nearing two years old, it became apparent Ronnie wasn’t meeting certain typical milestones (like crawling, walking, talking, and pointing). His mother, Kimberly, and her medical practitioners began to investigate. “It’s heart-wrenching to be told that you need to get your child tested,” said Kimberly. “It’s a hard place to be, but you can’t...
