Help Olivia get to NAPA Center Boston!

 

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Hi everyone! My name is Olivia and I’m 3 and a half. I was born at 30 weeks weighing only 3 pounds. The doctors aren’t sure why I decided to come so early but being a preemie put me at higher risk for other conditions. I spent 6 weeks in the NICU and they found damage to the white matter in my brain called PVL during an MRI before I was discharged. They didn’t know how it would affect my development. Around 2 years old I was diagnosed with spastic diplegia cerebral palsy, a birth injury caused by the PVL that affects my legs and gross motor skills like walking. Right now I use braces called AFOs on my ankles and a really cool walker to get around! I took my first independent steps with my braces this month. I have been working hard in physical and occupational therapy since I left the NICU.

 

We just found out that Olivia has been accepted to an internationally renowned intensive physical therapy program at the NAPA Center in Boston, MA!! We are going to do everything we can to get her there but we need your help. NAPA provides pediatric physical and occupational therapy using proprietary methods like the NeuroSuit and DMI. You can learn more about their incredible programs on their website: https://napacenter.org/napa-boston/

 

The NAPA Center has helped many families achieve progress that would normally take a full year in one 3-week program of intensive therapies. Her session is from May 23rd to June 10th 2022. Olivia’s program will specifically be 2 hours of PT in the morning then break for lunch and then an hour of OT followed by another hour of PT in the afternoon. We get a break on the weekends but it’s going to be very intense! We hope that she will be able to walk independently for longer distances and maybe stand without her braces. Standing independently will help with practical life skills that are very challenging for her like potty training and getting dressed. We hope to achieve more independence for Olivia and to build her confidence and abilities.

 

The program alone is expensive, on top of that we need a place to stay for 3 weeks away from home so the costs add up. If you can help in any way we truly appreciate it. Thank you for supporting this next big step in Olivia’s journey!! We love you all ❤️

 

Follow more of our journey on Instagram @oliviascplife