*Please note: this story was originally featured in SOAR365’s Fall NEWZ publication. Click here to view the full newsletter.

At SOAR365, therapists work as a team — helping one remarkable little girl grow, learn, and thrive. 

On a typical day, you can find Vivian riding her tricycle, cheering like a Dallas Cowboys cheerleader, or wagging her “tail” dancing with her chihuahuas. But you’d never know how hard she worked to get there. 

As an infant, Vivian was diagnosed with a global developmental delay. Her mother’s persistence led Vivian to a new neurologist, who found the cause – Vivian was having seizures, causing her to cry out in her sleep. With the help of medication and Pediatric Therapy at SOAR365, Vivian is making tremendous progress. 

Vivian first came to SOAR365 at just 14 months old, when she began physical therapy with Sandy Timok. “She went from not being able to sit up to I can’t catch her!” says her mother. With Sandy’s help, Vivian is now on par with her peers. 

Vivian’s family loved their experience with SOAR365 so much, that when they realized Vivian needed speech therapy, they knew just who to call. As Vivian healed from surgery for a lip and tongue tie, Aiyana Doswell-Coles was by her side to help as her speech therapist.  

First, Vivian learned to drink from a straw. Then Aiyana began helping Vivian find words to express what she wanted. “Aiyana has really worked hard with her,” says Vivian’s mother. 

Days are much easier now that Vivian can say words like “yes,” “no,” “up,” and “juice.” “We’re working on helping her move from those single words into phrases,” says Aiyana.  

“Vivian loves seeing her,” says Vivian’s mother. “She didn’t have a favorite book, but every book Aiyana brought quickly became her favorite and has been read countless times.” In fact, a book about animals unlocked a whole new learning path with Aiyana!  

Now, “Vivian can identify animals and make animal noises when you ask,” says her mother. And she found a new passion – touring aquariums to look at fish and sharks. Vivian is even learning to sing, starting with “Row, Row, Row Your Boat.”  

Aiyana is also working with Vivian on school readiness skills, like listening to directions.  

“Very honestly, I got her involved in Early Intervention thinking, ‘What is therapy going to do for such a young child?’ And it made a whole world of difference. I see how she has progressed so much,” says Vivian’s mother. In the moment, everything seems like it’s going to be forever, but therapy made the biggest difference for her.” 

At SOAR365, therapists from different disciplines all work together to find the right solutions for each family’s needs. “I really like how collaborative we are. It’s super helpful,” Aiyana adds, noting “other therapists in the area don’t get as much access” to insights from their coworkers. 

Along Vivian’s journey, that continuity of care at SOAR365 has been a comfort. Because they started with Sandy, “Aiyana already knows everything Vivian’s been through, and I don’t have to re-explain,” Vivian’s mother says. 

“It’s hard to imagine a stranger caring about your child as much as you do. But Sandy and Aiyana care so much! They personally care about her success. I think that speaks volumes. Working with SOAR365 has been a really great and positive experience.” 

To learn more about SOAR365’s Pediatric Therapy services, click here.