This story originally appeared in the 2025 SOAR365 Annual Report. Click here to view a digital version of the report.
After nine long months in the hospital, Ava is now learning to color, try new foods, and climb playground equipment.
“Open door! Open door!” two-year-old Ava shouts excitedly. Outside are Blair Sweeney and Megan Pesci, her SOAR365 Pediatric Therapists. “They’re awesome,” says Ava’s mom, Kacie. “Both of us look forward to seeing them when they come. They’ve become part of the family.”
Ava was born at just 24 weeks. Diagnosed with a heart defect, she spent 9 months in the NICU at University of Virginia. She first began early intervention services in Charlottesville, before moving to Richmond and finding SOAR365.
“When we first started with SOAR365, she was only sitting propped up, and she wasn’t saying any words. No crawling, walking, or eating besides Cheerios or puffs,” says Kacie. “Now, she is talking and walking and thriving!”
“Blair and Megan encourage her; they’re her biggest cheerleaders. They’ll chant ‘Go, Ava, go!’ or sing ‘take a bite’ when she’s trying new foods,” says Kacie. “They have been so helpful, giving me ideas and resources and support.”
With their help, Ava is blossoming. “She’s so smart. She knows her ABC
s. She can recognize colors, numbers and letters,” says Kacie. Ava loves to be independent, confidently saying, “Me! Me! Me!” when she wants to do something herself.
What’s next for Ava? Her current goals include using stairs independently, jumping, stacking toys, and trying new foods. Blair is helping Ava use a balance bike and playground equipment, so she can explore and play like other children her age. Meanwhile, Megan is teaching her to grasp a crayon and make a line on paper. Parents sometimes take these milestones for granted – but not Kacie.
“At a recent NICU reunion, one of my friends said, ‘It’s crazy to think, two years ago … who’d have thought we’d be here?’” says Kacie. It’s clear that her love and dedication made Ava’s progress possible – with help from the professionals at SOAR365.
“They help Ava thrive, and they help me to help Ava thrive,” says Kacie. Other parents agree – in 2025, XX% of parents said SOAR365’s Pediatric Therapy services increased their confidence in caring for their children.
We’re proud to be the largest provider of early intervention services in Central Virginia. But the needs of our community keep growing – and so does SOAR365’s Pediatric Therapy program. Every year, the number of Virginia infants and toddlers diagnosed with a developmental delay or disability increases. By 2030, it’s expected to be over 40,000 children! With the help of our generous donors, we can reach even more families and help children like Ava for decades to come.
To learn more about SOAR365’s Pediatric Therapy program, click here. And to keep up to date on all things SOAR365, follow us on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and LinkedIn.
