August 21, 2024
It’s been a summer full of small miracles at CTC, and the joy in our children’s eyes has been nothing short of extraordinary. Many of our kids surpassed their goals, and the sense of achievement radiated through our community. But behind the smiles, behind every milestone reached, there is a story—a story of perseverance, heartache, and, ultimately, hope.
As a parent of a Therapy & Fun participant, I know the weight of worry, the countless nights spent praying for progress, and the bittersweet moments when reality doesn’t align with our dreams. I want to share one such story with you. It’s about my son, Remy.
Remy is non-speaking and has been part of the Therapy & Fun program for four summers now. Each year, we set a speech goal, hoping that one day, he might utter words that seem so natural for others. But deep down, I know that hearing him say “I love you” or even his own name might remain just a dream. The silence is deafening when a new friend asks Remy his name, only to be met with quiet. It’s a pain that grips my heart—a pain only a parent of a non-speaker can truly understand.
One of the simple joys I once took for granted is the ability to write and draw. What seemed like a basic form of expression—a pastime—became an elusive milestone for Remy. While other children his age filled pages with colorful pictures and carefully crafted letters, Remy’s take-home folder was often filled with scribbles, barely recognizable as the letters of his name. Yet, we pressed on, year after year, hoping for a breakthrough, grateful for the dedicated therapists who never gave up on him.
This summer, something miraculous happened. When I walked into our discharge conference with Remy’s occupational therapist, I noticed a large piece of paper taped to the wall. On it was a hand-drawn scene of a soccer player beneath the Olympic rings. But what caught my eye, what took my breath away, were the letters scrawled next to the player—his name, “Remy,” written in his own hand. No tracing, no hand-over-hand assistance, just pure, unadulterated achievement. I was overcome, sobbing through the rest of the meeting as Traci explained how they had woven his love for sports into every session, helping him achieve what once seemed impossible.
But the surprises didn’t end there. When I met with his speech therapist, she couldn’t wait to show me a video. They had been working on syllables, and as Remy stomped up the stairs, he said, “Re” with one step and “my” with the next. It was progress, but I wasn’t prepared for what came next. In the final video, Remy said, clear as day, “Remy.” One cohesive word. His name. My son, speaking his name for the very first time. The pride in his eyes, the joy in my heart—it was a moment I will treasure forever.
As parents and caregivers, we often get lost in the chaos of therapies, IEPs, and the constant need to advocate for our children. It’s exhausting, often heartbreaking, and we yearn for those moments of normalcy, of triumph. CTC is the bridge that carries us through, the place where our children’s dreams are nurtured and brought to life.
This is the impact your support has. This is why we give, why we fight, why we hope. Your generosity is not just appreciated—it’s life-changing. It’s giving children like Remy the chance to say their name, to draw their dreams, to defy the odds. From the bottom of my heart, thank you. Thank you for believing in our children, for standing with us, and for helping to make the impossible possible.
2024’s Therapy &Fun and Therapy &Life Skills programs had us roaring! We welcomed 39 Therapy & Fun clients, and 16 Therapy & Life Skills clients, who completed a combined total of almost 3,400 hours of therapy this summer. We were also excited to welcome 41 volunteers who donated over 2200 hours of their time to help these children walk, talk, learn, and play. In addition to that, we had 17 therapists, 6 program staff, and 8 graduate student interns, and we had quite a wonderful crew. Our Therapy & Fun clients completed 71% of their speech goals and a whopping 92% of their occupational therapy goals. Our friends in Therapy &Life Skills completed 84% of their speech goals and 70% of their occupational therapy goals!
We are currently accepting sponsorships for our 2025 programs. If you would like to make a lasting impact through corporate sponsorship, please contact Savana (sbeal@therapycenter.org).
We are so grateful for you.
Thank you for your continued support of CTC!
