Max looks forward to each new step
Ana approaches life with confidence
Patricia finds hope
Michael doesn't have to fight alone

Max looks forward to each new step 

Holding tightly to his mother’s guiding hands, Max just learned to walk. While a major milestone for any child, these steps for Max were the result of particular optimism and determination.  Max has Down Syndrome and low tone -hypotonia- which essentially means his muscles are lacking stamina and have a slower response speed than children with regular muscle tone. In addition to the obstacles that Down Syndrome presents, hypotonia makes it especially difficult for babies to learn to sit alone, pull up, crawl and eventually walk. That’s where the determination comes in.

Max’s birth was a chaotic time in the hospital.  With no pre-natal Down Syndrome diagnosis, Max’s parents learned of his disabilities the day he was born. But while at the hospital, they also learned about something else: Any Baby Can. A service coordinator and physical therapist from the Any Baby Can Early Childhood Intervention (ECI) Program have worked with Max and his family since they were newly home from the hospital, and there was no looking back from day one. In addition to comprehensive case management, including Down Syndrome education, community referrals, and mental health counseling, ABC has also provided physical therapy, where Max and his family have made phenomenal strides. Several times monthly, the physical therapist visits Max at home, so she can work with both child and family in their natural environment.  The benefits of home visitation, versus therapy at a clinic or otherwise away from home, are invaluable.  Working in the child’s natural environment gives the therapist the advantage of working within the family’s established routine and integrating household items (like a dining room chair or favorite toy) into a therapy session. Most importantly, by working with the family in their home, the therapist is able to teach parents how to practice therapeutic techniques on their own. It’s just one way that Any Baby Can empowers parents to be their child’s biggest advocate, and Max’s mom and dad have done just that.  With each new day, Max and his family are making strides toward a strong future and new, exiting milestones.

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Ana approaches life with confidence

Five months ago, a few simple words made up Ana’s entire English vocabulary. Seemingly simple tasks like making a deposit at the bank or calling for a doctor’s appointment were nearly impossible. Her daughters were good students, but she struggled to help them with homework or communicate with their teachers. Ana wanted a better life for herself and her children, so she enrolled in the Family Literacy Program at Any Baby Can. These few months have made all the difference. While Ana has spent two mornings each week at Any Baby Can achieving standards in the TEA approved Adult Basic Education curriculum, her youngest daughter (age two) accompanies her to class and has learned important pre-literacy and patterning skills.

Today, Ana walks through the grocery store, bank and pharmacy with confidence.  Reading labels, asking questions and helping with homework are longer barriers. Instead, she is informed about the world around her, and she looks forward to her family’s future. Ana says “the program and teacher are great and have given me so many opportunities.” What is her next step?  A huge smile covers Ana’s face as she answers, “getting a job.”

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Patricia finds hope 

This December, the Any Baby Can Healthy and Fair Start (HFS) Program began working with Patricia, a 31 year old pregnant single mother with 3 children. Patricia struggled to connect with her children, had trouble advocating for herself and her children within the school system, and lacked education about child development and effective parenting techniques. She also suffered from depression and social isolation. Patricia’s son Jorge, who was nearly three years old, wasn’t speaking clearly and was still taking a bottle as his primary source of nutrition. In addition to Jorge’s needs, Patricia’s oldest child was expected to fail the second grade.

Patricia and her children truly found hope in the continuum of services at Any Baby Can. During weekly home visits, an HFS case worker assessed the family’s needs, helped them develop goals for the future, and provided case management services to help the family become more self-sufficient.  The case worker provided Patricia with child development and nutrition education, including information about how to stimulate Jorge to improve his speech. Patricia and her second grade child attended Any Baby Can tutoring classes (which are open to the public) where they diligently worked to improve the child’s performance in school. Additionally, the Any Baby Can tutoring instructor and HFS case worker both worked with Patricia in advocating for her second grader at school. Patricia also received mental health counseling from the Any Baby Can No Estás Solo counseling program.

As a result of Patricia’s hard work and Any Baby Can’s family systems approach, this family now looks to a bright future.  Patricia has a stronger attachment to her children, particularly her new baby, and she has established mealtime and bedtime routines.  She has improved Jorge’s eating habits by transitioning him to solid foods and is working with him on toilet training. She has conquered her fears of social anxiety and now takes her children to the public library.  Patricia’s attitude has dramatically improved, and she has much more confidence in her abilities to care for herself and her children. And, at the end of this school year, Patricia’s second grader was promoted to the third grade. 

Patricia’s story is just one of thousands as Any Baby Can brings help and hope to our community’s youngest, sickest and poorest children and their families.

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Michael doesn't have to fight alone

Each year in Texas, approximately 1,100 children are diagnosed with cancer. Michael is one of those children. Shortly before his fifth birthday, Michael was diagnosed with neuroblastoma, a rare cancer that only 600 U.S. children develop each year. He fought his way through multiple hospitalizations for earaches, stomach aches, infections and fatigue and underwent multi-day surgeries for bone marrow aspirations.  He endured one and a half years of chemotherapy and a bone marrow transplant. Fighting for his life at just six years old, Michael started to improve, but relapsed this August.  He is currently undergoing a grueling round of chemotherapy that requires treatments four to five days a week.

When Michael’s mom Judy received his diagnosis, she was devastated. Childhood cancer is any parent’s nightmare, but the disease is just one part of the battle. Judy struggled with the grief of having a sick child, plus the emotional and financial strains of caring for her son. On making it through each day, Judy says that “The demands of being a single parent are already so great that when you’re caring for a child with cancer everything is multiplied; even trying to think clearly can be a challenge.”

Any Baby Can’s Candlelighters Childhood Cancer Program has worked with Michael and his family from his initial diagnosis. From support groups to navigating community resources, his mom Judy says the help of their Candlelighters case worker has made all the difference. “It’s great to have someone as an immediate resource who really understands childhood cancer.”

The Candlelighters Program works closely with the ‘Specially for Children Clinic at the Dell Children’s Medical Center of Central Texas to identify new pediatric cancer diagnoses. Candlelighters masters level social workers trained in pediatric oncology provide families with specialized advocacy, medical case management, crisis intervention, support groups, family and individual counseling and bereavement services. Each year, Any Baby Can served approximately 100 families of children with cancer.

Any Baby Can Executive Director, Ellen Balthazar, says it’s important to remember the diverse needs of families of children with cancer. “These families are coping with so much more than a medical diagnosis. That’s why it is important for Any Baby Can to provide comprehensive care that meets each family where they are.”

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