Our Story

Cecilia came into this world 10 weeks early, spending the first 7 weeks of her life in the NICU. Every single day was a fight for her, and somehow, this tiny little baby showed us more strength than we thought possible. At just a year old she was diagnosed with cerebral palsy, something we started to expect months earlier. Hearing this outloud was devastating, but it made one thing clear, that we would stop at nothing to give her the best chance to grow, learn and thrive.

From 8 months old and on we threw ourselves into every therapy we could access. Physical, occupational, aquatic and more. Cecilia worked so hard, but the progress in these therapies was painfully slow. The truth is, the therapies covered by insurance aren’t designed to set children like her up for long-term success. They demand quick results on paper, when what these children really need is patience, consistency and a chance to build one skill at a time.

Finding the Path Forward

Everything changed when we discovered a therapy called the Adeli Method, not commonly used in the US but developed and widely applied in Eastern Europe. It employs a special suit that uses elastic bands that mimic muscle connections. The suit adds controlled resistance and alignment while allowing full range of motion. This helps the body work with gravity and improve coordination and posture during therapeutic exercises. We committed to a 3-week intensive program and the results were life-changing. In just 3 weeks Cecilia made more progress than she had in a year and a half. She is now able to sit upright on her own for extended periods of time, she can hold herself in a crawling position and has even begun taking independent steps in a gait trainer. Things we once feared might never happen. For the first time we didn’t just have hope for her future, we have proof of what’s possible.

Turning Struggle Into Purpose

Through this journey, I’ve learned how isolating and overwhelming it can feel to fight for resources that should be accessible to every child. No parent should have to spend sleepless nights wondering how they’ll pay for therapy while also trying to hold it all together. Cecilia has taught me what resilience looks like and she has given me the courage to turn our struggle into something bigger. Friends of Cecilia is about hope, about never letting another family feel like they’re in this alone. What started with one little girl’s fight is becoming a movement of love, community and possibility.

Mission statement

“Inspired by Cecilia’s strength, our mission is to build a legacy of support for children with special needs. By funding therapies and launching the Friends of Cecilia Scholarship, we are creating a future where no family has to choose between financial hardship and their child’s progress.”