4-year-old Brooke Smith is a twin on a mission . . . to keep up with her identical twin sister, Paige, who definitely keeps her on her toes! The bubbly, energetic twins are clearly two peas in a pod. However, Brooke is challenged by a condition caused by gestational complications just before their birth. Brooke’s defective gait pattern and speech impediment are attributed to Cerebral Palsy and Auditory Neuropathy.
The Smith Family found out about the ATI Foundation while Mike, the twins’ dad, was going through shoulder rehabilitation at ATI’s Kenosha, Wisconsin clinic. His physical therapist, Emily Fendrick, met the twins and immediately thought about how the ATI Foundation could help.
“Emily told me about the foundation, but I thought that others needed it more than us,” said Mike. “However, as I looked to other state resources, I was not having success getting help, either because of lack of funding or their feeling that Brooke was not ‘bad enough’. While insurance has helped, habilitative therapies (as opposed to rehabilitative therapies) are not covered that well.”
Brooke received funding from the ATI Foundation to attend weekly session for Hippotherapy, which simply means “treatment with the help of the horse.” Through this therapy, the horse provides a consistent and rhythmic movement pattern that helps improve trunk mobility and strength, postural strength and endurance, proprioception, weight bearing and motor planning.
Terry Williams, ATI Foundation Director, also found another way for them to use the money. Brooke was in need of an adaptive bicycle to help her ride a bike like her sister: to allow a kid to be a kid and not feel “different.”
Since the day the Smith family was presented with Brooke’s bike, the difference in her ability to ride the bike has been significant. She can pedal on her own, steer, and is trying to keep up with her sister. Brooke is learning to be confident and independent. “The smile never leaves her face when she is riding her bike,” says her proud dad.
In September, Brooke and her family attended the ATI Foundation’s Celebration Extravaganza in Milwaukee to be honored as a Foundation recipient. “We love to bring Brooke to ATI events to personalize the foundation for those taking part,” said Mike. “When people meet Brooke and see her smile and sense of humor, I think they understand what the ATI Foundation is about.”
Mike and Faith are thankful that the ATI Foundation has been able to assist them. “Our goal is to make as many other families aware of the foundation as possible.”
If you would like more information on the ATI Foundation check out ATI Foundation.