Family reflects on 15 years of life-changing services

When Patty and Steve Patrick first brought their son, Aidan, to Easterseals 15 years ago, they were filled with uncertainty and questions. Aidan was 3, nonverbal, and behind on developmental milestones. For the next 15 years, he received a combination of physical, occupational, and speech therapy, three days a week at first. In recent years, as he began receiving therapies in a school setting, his time at Easterseals tapered off to once a week for speech, where he learned to communicate using an augmentative and alternative communication device. 

Earlier this month, Aidan had his final speech therapy session with Speech-Language Pathologist Kelli Shallcross.

Aidan’s hard work has led to him becoming a more confident communicator, and his family’s involvement has also been vital to his success. It’s been a pleasure watching his growth over the years! ~ Kelli Shallcross, Speech-Language Pathologist

On Feb. 28, Aidan turned 18, but although he no longer receives services at our pediatric facility, he still comes through the doors once a week to provide services to us. Through a supportive employment partnership with Augusta Levy Behavioral Services and the West Virginia Division of Rehabilitative Services, Aidan spends several hours a week at Easterseals shredding documents, cleaning the therapy gym, and preparing mailings, among other tasks.

What follows is an excerpt from a letter Patty Patrick wrote to Easterseals on Feb. 18.

To our dear Easter Seals family,

Where do we even begin? Fifteen years ago, we walked into your waiting room for the first time as young parents who were unsure of what was going on with our little boy. From day one, we were greeted with kindness and compassion.

We remember the intake evaluations and hoping this would be a quick couple years of therapy and we would move on. Mary, Melanie, Krystal, Kelli (and sometimes Leigh) were there every step of the way to answer our questions (which were many at times) and guide us to do everything we could to give Aidan every chance he deserved at a full life. We soaked in everything you gave us and tried our best to apply it to his everyday life. 

You will never know the impact you have had not just on Aidan, but all of us. You were his biggest cheerleaders, and for that we will always be grateful. 

Well, months turned into years and then more years. We didn't realize we would raise both our babies in your waiting room. We spent Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday afternoons in your waiting room for many years. While Aidan was back getting therapy, Isaac would be playing with all of the toys and books you had available, and we would be thanking God for that 30-minute break so that we could just breathe while you taught Aidan so many skills he would need to succeed. 

Then years went by and Isaac went from playing with toys to doing his homework while we waited. Every staff member, whether at the front desk or in the back, never missed an opportunity to make us feel comfortable and at ease. 

Whether we needed a pencil for young Isaac to do is homework, an answer to a scary insurance question, or just a smile for one of you, you were always there.

... While we still don't know what the future holds, we do know that because of you all, Aidan holds the future! We used to be terrified that this moment would come because you were all our safety net and our guide. We are no longer sad that the days of therapy are ending, but we are sad because the relationships we have made will be a little bit more distant now.

We thank you for allowing Aidan an opportunity to grow as he now works alongside you all. ... Easter Seals will always be an important part of our lives, but we consider you, the staff, our family. May God continue to bless you in all of the work you do. You're making a difference!