Braxton, a boy with spina bifida, comes with his mom from a town west of Chicago, and will be establishing a schedule of visits and sessions. Through smiles and tears, Braxton’ s mom recalls she saw her son’ s strength double in weeks. It was heartwarming to witness him, in elastic straps connected to the“ cage,” and either sitting or suspended in a swing, kicking a ball to knock pins down, squealing with joy at each strike.
His mom learned about Euro-Peds at an Abilities Expo event; the family went home with information and a tentative plan for Braxton.“ There is a‘ get it done’ attitude here,” she said.“ It definitely was a great decision to come to Euro-Peds.”
This“ piece of heaven” as we have described might lead visitors to wonder – especially in a [ euphemism alert!] challenging environment of high budgets, insufficient insurance industry support, and sparse government assistance – how Euro- Peds makes ends meet. The situation has, of course, occurred to the managers of the National Center for Intensive Pediatric PT.
For those reasons, Euro-Peds, which is an LLC, has been partnered since 2013 with the
Euro-Peds Foundation, which is a 501( c)( 3) non-profit organization.
The Foundation raises funds and awards grants that help the kids receive life-altering intensive physical therapy and education at the Euro-Peds location in Pontiac. This is referred to as“ the first” location, because to dream, properly, is to expand this unique treatment elsewhere.
Current Euro-Peds Foundation programs include:
• Treatment Grants – The Euro-Peds Foundation awards treatment grants to children who are receiving intensive physical therapy at the Euro-Peds Intensive Pediatric Physical Therapy Clinic in Pontiac.
• Travel Grants – Many children travel with their families from out-of-state to attend Euro-Peds for sessions that last two to four weeks. Airfare, gas, hotel, and other travel expenses are not typically covered by insurance. The Foundation has established this program to help families with out-of-pocket, lodging expenses to help ease the financial burden.
• Adopt A Euro-Kid Program – At times, requests for grants may exceed the funds available through the treatment and travel grants. EPF is committed to helping every child, so the Foundation may choose to create an Adopt a Euro- Kid fundraising page. After reviewing the stories and needs of our Adopt A Euro- Kids, supporters may choose to donate to a specific child’ s Euro-Peds session.
Euro-Peds operates on the unwritten basis that we humans are all one family, perhaps unlike each other superficially, but certainly alike in our common humanity, challenges, occasional disabilities, and our sympathies, needs and joys. Myself, after spending an afternoon at Euro-Peds in Pontiac, was reminded of these truths, and supposed that’ s how heaven will be. But in the meantime, work is to be done here, and Euro-Peds is doing it in remarkable fashion.
It attends trade fairs like Abilities Expo. It has several excellent websites( links below) and reader-friendly literature. Its application forms are very uncomplicated. Its staff follows children home for follow-up therapy, provides letters of medical necessity when needed for reimbursements that might be available, and spreads the unique approach of care they pioneer.
Euro-Peds Foundation’ s annual gala was held recently at the nearby Auburn Hills Marriott at Centerpoint – titled the“ First Step” Gala. At 11:11:11 in the evening, $ 1,111 was awarded in a raffle, based on“ ONE child, ONE therapist, ONE opportunity for mobility, changing ONE life at a time.” There was live entertainment; a presentation by Dr Partha Nandi of WXYZ- TV7;“ Pacesetter” awards to the D-Man Foundation and the Gandee family, both of whom have supported the common goals of Euro-Peds; and Marty Sheedy, a man born with multiple congenital deformities – a success story we shall visit in an upcoming issue of Innovative Health Magazine.
The cast and crew of ABC’ s ground-breaking new series Speechless, about a child with CP and his family; and Dr. Susan Youngs of the Center for Exceptional Families, were also honored. In addition, other children and their families were present and honored.
At the gala, as in their homes and neighborhoods after therapy, they displayed their amazing progress, and joy-filled selfconfidence. And growing independence.
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One step at time. The National Center for Intensive Pediatric PT Euro-Peds Foundation 3000 Centerpoint Parkway Pontiac, MI 48341 www. europeds. org www. EuroPedsFoundation. org www. Facebook. com / EuroPedsIntensivePT
Michelle Haney, President, michelle @ europedsfoundation. org Clinic and patient application: 248.857.6776
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