Kaia - A Mom's Hope Kaia was born 5 weeks premature. After a month-long stay in the NICU at LRMC, we brought her home and assumed she would have a slight developmental delay based on being born premature. However, she soon began to demonstrate strange behavior. Her body would jerk and her eyes would flutter or fixate on objects that weren’t there. Our pediatrician referred us to a neurologist and at 6 months old, Kaia was diagnosed with severe epilepsy. At 15 months old, she had open heart surgery to repair a large hole in her heart. She healed quickly and has had no cardiac problems since. However, Kaia’s seizures got worse over time. At their worst, she would have hundreds of seizures a day. In 2008 Kaia had a Vegas Nerve Stimulator implanted into her chest to help manage her seizures. With a combination of the implant and daily medications, her seizures are finally under control.
Three years ago, Kaia started attending the Achievement Academy. She was very weak and could not communicate at all. She was completely dependent on others for even the most basic needs. Since that very first week, Kaia has received weekly physical, speech and occupational therapy. Now, three years later, she is nothing like the child she used to be. Because of the dedication and work from everyone at the school, Kaia is now able to sit up, crawl, help with her feedings and even pull up into a standing position.
The staff at Achievement Academy works tirelessly to make sure each student gets all the help they need in order to succeed. Because of the persistence from her therapists, Shriners Hospital has given Kaia a new wheel chair and she will also receive a new set of leg braces every six months until she is 18 years old. With those braces Kaia is now able to take steps in a walker! This gives me hope that one day she will be able to walk beside me holding my hand.
The support from Achievement Academy extends far beyond the classroom right into our home and family. Kaia has been hospitalized many times, and as a result, I had to quit my job to help care for her. The staff at Achievement Academy took action to help. They nominated us for The Newspaper With A Heart Program with The Lakeland Ledger. We were accepted and Kaia’s story made front page news. Through the donations from the public, our rent, car payments and utilities were all paid for two months. We also received a new stroller, car seat, gifts and food for Christmas dinner. All of this made that Christmas a holiday our family will never forget!
Today Kaia can respond to the sound of my voice, she kisses her daddy on the cheek and she can wrap her arms around us to show affection. I know in my heart, she never would have been able to do this if it were not for the help she has received from the Achievement Academy.
Everyone knows that the children at Achievement Academy are special, but they are not the only ones. Every teacher, therapist, secretary and volunteer are just as special. They are all miracle workers. Every time Kaia reaches a new goal, they celebrate with us just like a family. So, I want to say THANK YOU to everyone at Achievement Academy for giving Kaia all the special attention and love she needs to be as strong, healthy and happy as she is today.