As parents, ‘Mama’ and ‘Dada’ are the two words you are most excited to hear. It’s a magical moment to have your little one gaze at you with love in their eyes as they speak those special words for the first time. 

For Jaxson’s parents, Jennifer and Kirk, those words were very slow to come … so slow, in fact, that they worried he may not speak at all. 

On a cold winter morning, our team had the opportunity to interview Jaxson’s family. Jaxson recently turned three years old, is a new big brother to Riley, and is everything you’d expect–silly, energetic, chatty, adorable, and a lover of hotwheels. However, chatty hasn’t always been the case.

When Jaxson was eight months old, he began showing signs of oral aversion. He was extremely selective about which bottle he used, he didn’t like having his cheeks or face touched, and would swat away most food as solid food was being slowly introduced. His oral aversion became so bad that brushing his teeth–he went through 20 tooth brushes and five different toothpastes–caused such stress and anxiety that Jaxson was often left screaming and in tears. It was a stressful time for the whole family. 

As he got older, Jaxson’s parents noticed that he also had a severe speech delay, which has been one of his most significant challenges. Rather than trying to form words to communicate, he would make grunting noises to let his parents know what he wanted. Not being able to communicate his wants and needs–and for his parents, not being able to understand what Jaxson was trying to communicate–was so hard!

His parents sought help with therapy, but the cost can be quite prohibitive for families, especially if insurance doesn’t cover the therapy or the deductible is extremely high. Thanks to a scholarship award from Family Hope Foundation through a grant from Holland Junior Welfare League, Jaxson was able to get a jumpstart on his therapy journey. 

Erica Slenk, President of Holland Junior Welfare League, says, “For our members, it is incredibly meaningful to know that our support goes directly to children receiving these life-changing therapies. As a volunteer group of women, it reinforces the work we put in and provides a tangible way to see the difference our efforts are making in the lives of children in our local community, which is at the heart of our mission.”

With the start of therapy, Jennifer and Kirk quickly learned that Jaxson was very good with receptive language–the ability to understand, process, and comprehend spoken, written, or signed language. He quickly learned sign language and was finally able to communicate and be understood. Still, he didn’t like the feeling of physically speaking, and the possibility of an apraxia diagnosis–too early to diagnose just yet–has caused a looming stress.

The good news? Jaxson’s access to therapy has helped him turn a corner. His therapy includes tactile touch to get him used to the feeling of his face and mouth being touched, mirror work to watch as his mouth moves while speaking, and work with a z-vibe, an oral stimulation tool, that helps tone facial muscles and helps him become more accustomed to sensations inside his mouth.  

Jaxson has had some major WINS on this journey:

• He can communicate with words.
• He has a vocabulary of more than 300 words.
• His parents can understand his wants and needs.
• His attention span has improved.
• He can drink from a straw and an open cup.
• He eats a growing variety of foods.
• He can use utensils.
• He is becoming a problem-solver.
• He can now brush his teeth without kicking and crying.

And one of Jaxson’s biggest wins…about six months ago, those magic words–‘Mama’ and ‘Dada’–were proudly spoken and delightfully heard! Now, at just three years old, Jaxson is showing tremendous improvement thanks to his therapy.

His journey is far from over, though–as Jaxson continues his therapy, his parents have big goals. They’d like to see him continue to expand the variety of foods that he eats, that he’ll learn to articulate and form complete sentences, and that he’ll be able to sit at the dinner table for at least 15 minutes during a meal. These are big goals for such a little guy!

As they think about Jaxson’s journey, his parents remain optimistic, patient, and positive about his future. With his head of curly black hair and a smile that lights up a room, they are hopeful that he’ll grow up happy, independent, and able to communicate well with the world around him. As his mom says, “He’s already showing signs of this thanks to the wonderful therapies he’s had access to!”

Stories like Jaxson’s are a powerful reminder that early intervention and access to therapies can truly help a child find their voice. As he continues working toward his new milestones, we’ll be right here cheering him on!  

Warmly,

Jennifer, Jane, & Madeline