Naomi is an adventurous and independent 4-year-old, but this was not always the case.
Naomi’s parents were the first ones to be concerned with her development. At 9 months old, Naomi suffered chronic constipation, and she was not yet crawling or pulling herself up. Knowing their worries were valid, Naomi’s pediatrician placed a referral for Early Intervention at Steps.
During the intake appointment, Steps Family Resource Coordinator noticed that when her parents supported Naomi to stand, she would lock her legs and flex her hips to avoid the weight on her legs, clearly making Naomi uncomfortable. Physical Therapy was recommended to support Naomi’s strength and mobility.
“When Naomi was referred, Steps had no waitlist. For a parent that works in the healthcare industry, this was incredible,” said Naomi’s mom, Natalia. “The process was streamlined, we didn’t have to worry about requesting insurance authorization, it was one less stressor to deal with.”
Another benefit was the open communication between Steps staff and Naomi’s pediatrician. Marc, Steps Physical Therapist, expressed to Naomi’s pediatrician the need for follow-up referrals for evaluations for Naomi’s chronic constipation and decreased muscle tone. Likewise, her pediatrician requested that Steps re-evaluate when he had concerns about her behavior and speech. After three months of therapy, Naomi was making progress in her general mobility, but Naomi’s low muscle tone was especially evident in her legs. Marc reached out to Naomi’s pediatrician and advocated for her to have bilateral low-profile ankle foot orthotics to help provide her with stability from her feet and ankles. As Naomi’s development progressed or changed, Steps staff would update her Family Service Plan and continue moving forward to accommodate Naomi and the needs of her family.
Naomi had therapy with Steps for more than a year. Natalia looks back at the progress that Naomi made during her time with us and shared, “Naomi walks, she is more adventurous and confident in her abilities to be mobile.
” Her braces have come off, and she can now do something that she could never do before, she jumps!”
Natalia credits Steps with Naomi discovering that even though she was the youngest of three girls, she doesn’t have to depend on anyone. Naomi no longer needs therapy; she can keep up with her big sisters just fine and she is now a big sister herself!
