Daniel is an inquisitive, sweet-natured four-year-old with a big heart. If you met him today, he’d probably chat your ear off about his love for cars and motorcycles, ask you curious questions about the world around us, or sing you his favorite song. You’d never guess that he overcame severe expressive speech delays at a young age.
Daniel’s parents, Stacy and Cody, noticed early on that he wasn’t able to mimic words and was failing to meet typical speech development milestones. Daniel would struggle with being understood and would often get frustrated or angry that he wasn’t able to express what he was thinking and feeling.
“I tried to push it aside because I was afraid of the unknown,” said his mom, Stacy. “I didn’t want to admit that one of my kids might struggle. I finally bit the bullet and Danny was placed with Joya. I didn’t know then, but it’s been one of the biggest blessings in my life.”
Daniel started getting virtual speech therapy through Joya in January 2021 in the midst of the pandemic when most kids were kept home and weren’t exposed to the typical socialization offered at daycare or preschool. Because of that, Daniel’s younger brother, Bennett, would often sit in on his virtual speech sessions, which eventually helped him overcome his own similar speech delays.
Now, three-year-old Bennett is able to express his creative imagination, whether he’s chasing adventure, finger painting or telling colorful stories about his favorite dinosaurs.
“Taylor and Suzie invested so much time and energy into my boys and my family,” said Stacy. “I know it’s their job, but it feels like more than that. Joya isn’t just about speech therapy, Joya has become part of our family. As a parent, that’s what you try to find – people who love and accept your kids where they are and support them in their growth.”
Little sister, Isla, has even tagged along for many of her brothers’ sessions, even though she’s advanced in speech for her age. She’s now a peer model at Joya, helping others learn how to socialize and find their voices.
*story originally published in March 2023
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