Special Care, Inc. - Giving Children Wings

Special Care
12201 N. Western Ave.
Oklahoma City, OK 73114
Ph: 405-752-5112
Fax: 405-752-8963

Family Testimonials

What follows is a presentation by a Special Care parent for her workplace, Baptist Integris Medical Center, as part of its United Way campaign.

My name is Lisa Mimms Shelton. We have a 3-year-old son with Down Syndrome. His name is Christian. Christian was born with multiple medical complications. Heart, colon, hearing and a few orthopedic problems, which are sometimes associated with Down Syndrome warranted specialized medical care which included many surgeries. Christian required home oxygen for two weeks after discharge to assist with breathing while eating.

Prior to discharge from the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at Integris Baptist Medical Center we were introduced to a Sooner Start Representative. The representative referred us to Special Care, Inc. Special Care is a daycare center that provides services for kids with "special needs" and non-"special needs." The staff is trained to assist and monitor kids on oxygen, as well as follow up physical, occupational, and speech therapy. The therapist provides interdisciplinary services as needed to assist Christian with the care he required to crawl, sit, stand, and now walk. Christian received speech therapy and began sign language as well as better swallowing and language techniques.

The staff at Special Care allowed comfort during critical times in our lives. Knowing each teacher knew our baby well enough to inform us of changes in his daily activity helped us and Christian so much.

Each day when we leave not only do teachers and therapists know Christian by name, the administrative staff know Christian also.

Special Care continues to provide the care we need for Christian. The name speaks for itself. We are very grateful for the support we have received from all contributors in efforts to maintain a specialized facility such as Special Care.

What follows is an email Special Care received from a parent.

Dear Pam and staff:

I would like to share with you and your wonderful staff that my prayer has been that Samuel would find his voice in '07. For many mornings, I would wake up and ask God, "Is this the day?" Well, there were a few disappointing mornings, but today is the day. We have been in awe of all the wonderful words coming out of his mouth! Not sounds, not parts of words, not single words, but at least two word sentences and longer!

I would like to thank you and Special Care's dedicated staff for the huge impact they are having on Samuel's life and for the work they do each and every day. Today, God chose to work through them. Okay, don't know about the whispering there and at school, but he does have a voice and we have heard it, the volume begins to increase in the car! " Ear hurts, hot outside, oh no, please mommy, Bear in the Big Blue House, etc.." It has been amazing. I do not want to leave out any special soul that has touched Samuel, but I just can't hesitate to thank, of course, his SLP, Beth Taylor and her awesome work with the flip book, Joan Berryhill's personal touch and specialized knowledge of therapeutic listening, Mansur's experience and getting Samuel to say "more" perfectly, and Christi's past flexibility training along with Sara's m&ms lead up to using other potties besides the gym's, and the reading of Green Eggs and Ham by Dr. Seuss tirelessly, in which he can now finish the rhyme with a word we understand, and Carrie's hard work with getting Samuel to eat chicken off his lunch tray and countless other tasks they have done and countless others I am unfortunately leaving off. You are so appreciated! May God continue to bless your work.

Sincerely,
Stacy Hoffman