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Participant Spotlight: Meet Michael
Michael Bevan, an in vitro baby, was born three weeks early just nine months ago. His sibling twin didn’t survive, a heartbreaking outcome of the third pregnancy for the Bevans of River Forest.
Michael spent nearly three weeks in a hospital neonatal intensive care unit and was diagnosed with a minor kidney fluid retention problem, as well as a small heart murmur. When Michael was about four months old, Holly Bevan realized her son wasn’t hitting the milestones her daughter, three-year-old Lauren, had reached at that age.
“He was a couple of months behind where he should be so we had him assessed by an evaluation team through the state’s Early Intervention system,” says Holly. “They recommended occupational and physical therapy and a neighbor recommended the name of a great therapist she knew of at Aspire. We’re lucky Michael doesn’t have any serious health issues but he does have hypotonia (low muscle tone), so our therapist comes to our house and we work on that.”
Therapist Paula Cox and the Bevan family all see ongoing improvement from his occupational and physical therapy sessions. “Paula teaches me exercises to do with Michael to help him develop stronger muscle tone. He’s learning how to track objects and we’re working on sitting up now,” says Holly.
The sessions have proven to be a godsend for the Bevan family. “What’s amazing to me is how Paula has taught us how to focus in on the exercises so that we can practice as a family when she’s not there,” says Holly. A bonus to the learning time is that daughter Lauren isn’t left out of the picture, either.
“Paula brings toys for her to play with and has taught me how to incorporate our exercises with Lauren so that she’s involved. Aspire tries to mimic real life experiences and that helps a lot. All three of us are on the floor doing tummy time exercises together and I’ve learned how to get Lauren to hand her brother a toy.”
It’s important to Holly, who is a part-time pharmaceutical sales rep, that much of the work with her son is done at her home. “I’m learning to work within our home environment because that’s where we are most of the time and that’s what makes this the best learning experience for Michael. Aspire is a phenomenal agency and the staff are so kind, gentle and encouraging. We’re lucky to have found them.”
