Testimonials
"I cannot say enough. . . They have a 'never give up' attitude. Their spirit just carries these children through a four-hour therapy session and the children are still smiling at the end of therapy. They make it fun and you get results! They are the best ever."-Hope Lach, Mother of Bryce
"I cannot say enough wonderful things about this program or the people involved with it. I came in out of curiosity with little expectation. After 15 years on forearm crutches, I had all but accepted my reality. Flash-forward 3 weeks and the things I have accomplished are amazing! I have gone from standing less than 45 seconds to nearly 10 minutes independently, and I was able to play catch for the first time in my life. The number of independent steps has also increased 100 fold. WOW!! The therapists were above all the greatest strength of this program. Their attitude on top of everything else just made all the other aspects click. All of the therapists were at the top of their game and extremely professional during my time here. Their training and creativity are second to none state-wide and beyond!"
-Heather Adrian
"Gaven's Wish to Walk"
Gaven Alexander is my 8 year old son. He has overcome many obstacles along his journey thus far. Gaven was born two months premature, and due to a traumatic brain injury at birth, has cerebral palsy. Gaven's prognosis at birth was the worse case scenario…our family was told of all the things he would never do, and I'm pretty sure they covered them all. Thank God, we chose to dream big, set our sights high and debunk their limitations!So, what do you get when you take a determined, stubborn, amazing kid, then give him the opportunity to get some cutting edge, intensive therapy done by three talented, dedicated, driven, and loving therapists???
You get AMAZING results!
Gaven was walking in a posterior walker, struggling with endurance and gait when we came to work with these therapists. Within the first few days, Gaven rode a bike for the first time in his life, pedaling and steering independently!
By week 2, Gaven tried out forearm crutches for the first time. When I saw him the first day, I was amazed, yet I must admit I didn't know how this little weeble wobble would ever master the crutches before our session was over. You see, this is a huge step, and we only had over a week of therapy left. But, Gaven said it best when he announced during therapy that week, “I'm at the top of my game baby!” and boy was he! The last day of therapy Gaven walked out sporting his new blue crutches.
The following Monday Gaven returned to school. As he walked in with his new crutches, his classmates who had lined the hallway welcomed him back. Cheers and applause from his primary school peers thundered. His amazing progress and increased independence continues to leave teachers, friends, and even his doctors in awe. Gaven's new skills, increased strength, endurance, not to mention his heightened self esteem has had a tremendous impact on every aspect of our lives. Life changing doesn't begin to describe it.
Just to clarify, NO, this isn't a magic pill. It's great therapy, done by fantastic therapists. Therapists who are dedicated to seeing children maximize their potential. They bonded with Gaven and discovered his interests, then used this to inspire and motivate him to push himself to a new level. Gaven still talks about them and asks when he'll see them again. Intensive Suit Therapy is hard work, but with these therapists it's more like child's play!
If you are a parent and have any questions, I would love to share my experience with you!
(Email Jill at jillralexander@hotmail.com)
Sincerely,
Jill R. Alexander
Advocate for Children with Disabilities"
"Madison's experience at Innovative Children's Therapy was amazing! She responded so well to the therapists and to the 'hard work,' (which never felt or seemed like work to her) she did while she was there. The therapists are so dedicated and knowledgeable, but also displayed such a loving spirit toward Madison that she immediately felt at ease with them, and they were experts at motivating her to truly get the most out of her. I saw great improvements in Madison's strength and endurance during the session. Her sitting balance improved greatly! She had been walking with a walker but her gait pattern was not the most conducive for independent mobility, which was something we had been working on for a long time, unsuccesfully. During her session, she learned how to take steps 'the right way' outside of that pattern and that is HUGE to me and even took a couple on her own. Very exciting! There were just improvements across the board, really. This was overall a GREAT experience and we will be back! Thank you Dayna, Trevor and Ariana!
-Amanda and Madison Starbuck"
"The burst of energy and strength this program has provided Andrew after his PERCS surgery is exactly what he needed. It has given him confidence in himself and in his physical abilities and most importantly it has given us hope. The sense of independence that Andrew has acquired is priceless. The progress we have seen in 3 weeks would have taken months if not years in traditional therapy. We will definately be back."
-Edith
"You have all been such a joy to work with. It's amazing to me how you all keep such positive attitudes not only throughout each session but throughout the entire intensive program. Kolby has made amazing progress in just three weeks. Barry and I are so happy that Kolby has learned to enjoy mobility and the independence that comes along with it. Prior to the intensive session it was a chore for Kolby to get around with his walker. Now we can't keep him out of it. Thank you for all you've done and continue to do to help Kolby meet his maximum potential."
-Barry and Lynn
"I believe that God has truly blessed us through Alex's treatment of intensive therapy. The progress he has made is just incredible. The three weeks flew by so fast and I am sad it is over. We live far, but I am so impressed with his growth and progress that we are going to continue. Just for example, before we came one of his physical therapy goals was to stand for 20 seconds. In the beginning of the third week of intensive he stood for 7 minutes. How could you not see the difference? Even my husband could see the inprovement. Alex also took 13 steps independently. He just feels stronger all over. It's a miracle. Thank you Jesus."
-Vacelia
"Isabella has made such progress in these three weeks and I'm anxious to see continued progress at home by following the recommended exercise plan. This has been probably the most difficult and challenging three weeks in Isabella's life, but oh, so rewarding for both of us! Thanks to Dayna and Ariana for pushing Isabella to acheive the goals set for her and for allowing the both of us to see how she can gain more independence for herself. Thank you Dayna, Ariana, and Trevor for your patience and obvious dedication to what you do. You are all amazing!"
-Nancy
"I have seen a number of improvements since starting the three week program. We have been working on getting Erin to take small controlled steps while walking but could never seem to get her to do it. After a week in therapy her steps were so much more controlled on a consistant basis. Her trunk control has improved over the past three weeks. When we started, the goal was for Erin to move from using her walker with chest support to using forearm crutches. I have to admit I was not too sure that it would actually happen. The fact that she can now use the crutches has been the biggest acheivement. I'm sure that we would not have reached this goal without the daily intense therapy and the skills of the therapists at ICT. I have noticed that Erin's behavior has improved since starting therapy. The therapists are great at keeping the kids on task while working with them, and this training carries on while at home."
-Cathy
"Patrick definately gained a lot of strength and flexibility during the three week program. I also think he gained a lot of motivation to continue working on his motor skill goals. The program and the therapists are wonderful! I certainly felt like the experience at Innovative Children's Therapy was well worth the time and money. We will be returning again in the future, I'm sure!"
-Jean
"This is the first time Joey has actually said 'get rid of the wheelchair.' This is the most motivated he has ever been! He looks forward to coming and can't wait to come back for the next session. This is the extra push he needs! He feels stronger than ever!"
-Cindy
"Tragically, on July 15, 2004, our precious daughter Mia suffered a near drowning accident while attending a day camp in western North Carolina. After receiving CPR at poolside, she was airlifted to Greenville Memorial Hospital in Greenville, South Carolina, where she was admitted to the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit. Mia's early prognosis was not very reassuring – during our first day, we were visited by a pediatric surgeon who discussed the possibility of surgery on her major organs – lungs, liver, kidneys, and heart – most likely to be damaged by her lack of oxygen.
The hours turned into days, and days into weeks, and Mia began to respond slowly. One of the only things I clearly remember from those early days was a call from a family friend and neurologist: “The most recent literature shows that intensive therapy makes a difference”…Among all that he said, this simple statement stuck.
We turned our attention to “the next step” and found an inpatient rehabilitation program for children in Atlanta – closer to home, and more importantly, the only one that conducted therapy seven days a week. Mia (and Mommy) were transferred by air ambulance on August 3, 2004 and settled in for what turned into 11 weeks in our “new home”. The therapists took charge and even with Mia's limited awareness and abilities, they worked with her morning and afternoon, every day of the week. When her legs would not bend, braces for her knees were applied; when her feet began to “fall”, serial casts were ordered. Through it all, Mia cried, but everyone kept working – Mia, her family, her medical providers, and her therapists.
On October 20, 2004, scared and overwhelmed, we were released from the hospital. Mia was now medically stable and showing enough progress to begin outpatient therapy. But where? And with whom?
By God's grace, we were led to Orlando, Florida and to the professional and loving arms of Ariana Watson, Trevor MacLaren, and Dayna Browman. Mia was able to hold her head up, and sit up for brief periods. She had “stood up” from the sofa, but had no balance or ability to take even a single step. We arrived with Mia in a wheelchair, exhausted from the recent months. Ariana, Trevor, and Dayna began their assessment – examining Mia thoroughly and asking a thousand questions. They discussed and wrote goals for our first three-week session, one of which was Mia walking by the end of the three weeks. We were caught by their enthusiasm, but skeptical of “truly” being too hopeful. Hope can bring disappointment, and our emotions were fragile.
Fitted in her Thera-Suit, by the end of the first week, Mia took her first steps. Of course, I had gone to run an errand and missed the whole thing! When I returned to the car, and picked up my cell phone messages, I heard them joyfully screaming: “Mia is walking…she took twelve steps” without us holding her. I raced back to the therapy center to see sweet Mia take a few more steps that first Friday. She wobbled back and forth, and often walked in circles, but it was a start. It was December 3, 2004.
When we completed the first three-week session, we were convinced. Mia's progress with the daily intensive therapy (and hyperbaric oxygen treatments) was steady and notable. We signed up for the next session and returned to Orlando on January 2, 2005. By the end of January, the therapists recommended “no wheelchair” when Mia returned to school. With the helping hand of her teachers, Mia could walk from activity to activity, and was able to sit in a regular chair without assistance. By late February, we donated Mia's wheelchair to a local charity.
Intensive therapy, combined with the many other interventions we have used, continues to make a difference for our wonderful daughter. In her first year “post-accident”, we will have participated in five “three-week” sessions of intensive therapy (all after our first 14 weeks in the hospital). Ariana, Trevor, and Dayna have become integral members of our “team”, all devoted to Mia's recovery. They are truly the most talented, knowledgeable, professional, creative, and enthusiastic therapists we have met, and we recommend them to everyone we meet.
Through answered prayers, God's tremendous mercy, hard work, and incredible people, Mia's long recovery continues. We are thankful for Ariana, Trevor, and Dayna every single day.
- Ken, Marilynn and Mia"