12/08/2025
K is ELEVEN!
Oh, how I love this boy!
On July 3, 2017, he walked into BTH with his mom and dad. He was two and a half years old. His eyes were expressive and he had a lot to say, but only "ah," "eh" and "mama" came out.
We had a big journey ahead of us.
Because of childhood apraxia of speech, K had to work tremendously hard to sequence consonants and vowels together. Often, his mouth would move in an up and down pattern, but sounds wouldn't come out. The first time he paired a consonant and a vowel together was "boo" and his mom and I jumped up with pure excitement and joy. We were so incredibly proud of him because we knew how much effort came with producing a word.
Week after week, he gave 100%. Sometimes, he would say a word differently than the week before and we have to problem solve to get back to a consistent production. Defeat and accomplishment were often an element to every therapy session. But he got there.
Now, he talks nonstop - he tells elaborate stories, he wins competitions at the 4H, and he scares us by hiding and screaming "BOO" when we walk out to greet him!
Today, he's ELEVEN!
There's still work to do and life will continue to have challenges because he has motor planning difficulties throughout his entire body. But the determination in him is unlike any human I've yet to meet.
K is a remarkable, magical child with strength and grit.
Happy Birthday, K!
You are amazing!
~Marena Mitchell, Speech-Language Pathologist/Owner
Bringing Therapy Home
Overland Park, KS
P.S. "Bad to the bone" was one of his favorite songs years ago
