UCP Ambassador: Keira

Keira receives services from UCP’s Early Intervention Program.  Before UCP, Keira wasn’t making eye contact, smiling, crying, or allowing us to hold her.  As time went on, her speech was starting to show a delay as well as her fine motor skills.  With the help of her Speech Therapist, Occupational Therapist, and Developmental Specialist, she is now a different child.  She makes eye contact, smiles, and, best of all, gives HUGS!  She is now using about fifty words and putting them together. Without UCP Keira would not have been able to meet her full potential!

– Keira’s Parents, Rosemarie and Mark

UCP Ambassador: Liam

Liam was born on 11/3/07, a BIG and happy baby boy.  When he was about 5 months of age, it was noticed that he wasn’t using his right hand like he should, almost not at all.  So after a visit to his pediatrician, she recommended that he have an MRI mainly because she suspected he may have had a stroke.  About a month and a half later, Liam had his MRI to which a diagnosis of Cerebral Palsy was made, as a result of a stroke in utero most likely caused by a blood clot.  He began physical therapy at UCP of Central Arizona which led to occupational and speech therapy as well as one visit each week with his Early Interventionist.

 Since then, Liam has made huge strides and continues to surprise me everyday as he discovers new things and new skills.  He loves playing with his toys and has the uncanny ability to light up a room upon entering it.  He truly is a joyous little boy that teaches me so much about our abilities as a little family.  I also embrace every opportunity to share our story with anyone who has questions about his condition or to inform other parents so that they have the tools to recognize a problem early on should they encounter a similar situation. 

It is apparent that the services UCP of Central Arizona provides will be highly beneficial to both Liam and me. I know that they will provide an essential role in Liam’s continued progress and lend themselves as a huge support to us both. On behalf of Liam and me, we are grateful to be welcomed into the UCP of Central Arizona family!!

-Megan, Liam’s Mom

UCP Ambassador: Christian

Christian was born in August of 2007 and was diagnosed with Down syndrome.  Our family was completely shocked but we knew the love we had for our son was amazing and we knew it didn’t really matter how many chromosomes he had. 

The last two years we have been busy ensuring Christian will have every opportunity for a typical, fulfilling life.  He has a beautiful big sister who loves to play with him, watch out for him and occasionally gets upset when he gets into her things.  He has amazing early intervention therapists and we have a great support system through our many friends and networks. 

When Christian was close to turning two, I realized the only thing missing was a little social time for him with his peers.  Our schedules with therapies and our daughter’s school didn’t leave much time for having fun with friends.  After visiting UCP, I knew the Early Learning Center was something I wanted Christian to experience.  Two mornings each week, Christian participates in all the activities of the day at the UCP Early Learning Center including circle time, arts and crafts, outdoor play and eating lunch with his friends.  

I honestly never thought I would be able to leave our son at this early age, but I feel completely confident with UCP, his teacher and the other  staff members.  They have taught Christian many things and we have been so excited to see Christian excel in the past four months.  I always enjoy reading his daily activity sheet to see what he learned and enjoyed each visit.  He is having fun and learning new skills every day and we feel fortunate to have UCP as part of Christian’s “team”. 

We hope his pictures make you smile like we do when we look at him every day!”

-Karen, Christian’s mom

UCP Ambassador: Phoenix

Phoenix recently started attending the UCP Early Learning Center and receiving therapy at the Laura Dozer campus.  Phoenix is blessed with undying determination, a positive spirit and a contagious smile.  Phoenix inspires everyone he meets.  Cerebral Palsy doesn’t define this smart, social three year old and it definitely doesn’t slow him down!  All eyes are on him when he’s marching along in his walker, smiling from ear to ear… and he wouldn’t have it any other way.  Phoenix loves playing basketball, bowling, singing, dancing, boating and watching Elmo.

With the amazing medical resources available in Arizona and the loving support and services he receives at UCP of Central Arizona, there is no doubt Phoenix will reach his full potential and go on to achieve great things in life!”

 -Robyn, Phoenix’s mom

UCP Ambassador: Thomas

Thomas is a self-motivated, determined, strong individual.  He has overcome many obstacles in his lifetime.  He was born at 25 weeks gestation, he had ten brain surgeries before he was two years old.  He saved his mother’s life, just by being born. 

Thomas loves music.  Music has been a motivator for him.  His first attempt to move across the floor was so he could press buttons on the keyboard.  Thomas loves to ‘dance with Mom’.  He would often dance with Mom on her hip when he was smaller.  Now that Thomas is using his walker, he and Mom can dance together holding hands.  He was humming the tunes to songs long before he could speak.  His sister, taught him the, ‘I love you’ song. Thomas used to sing to all of us before he could say ‘I love you’. 

Thomas is happy, loving child.  He finds great joy in the smallest of things.  He loves to laugh and play. Thomas’ favorite game at home is to ‘play ball in the kitchen’ with Dad.  He loves to throw ball from the kitchen into the living room for Dad to retrieve it.  The further Dad has to go to get it, the funnier it is. 

Thomas spent his first years receiving care from his Grandma Karen in our home.  He loves books.  Grandma Karen would read to Thomas for many hours a day.  Now Thomas reads the books to us! (We think he has them memorized).  Thomas loves to spend Saturday’s with Grandma Mary and Mom.  He loves to go to the restaurant and have french toast.  He loves to go to the mall and ‘watch the kids fall down and go boom’.  He loves to be a part of the kids running, jumping, and playing. 

Thomas loves to go to UCP.  He often says, ‘having fun UCP’. Thomas has learned more independence since he started coming to UCP.  Thomas can maneuver his walker over the play structure.  He has shown a stronger desire to be more independent.  UCP is constantly teaching him how to do more things for himself.  He is very proud of his accomplishments. He loves the ‘brand new good jobs’ he gets when we take the crafts that he made at UCP out of his backpack.  He stands very tall and claps his hands in earnest.  The best way to describe Thomas is, Thomas is love with arms and legs….

- Tina, Thomas’ Mother

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