Making Great Strides
Early intervention gives youngster a jump-start to succeed .
McKenzie Hawkins is an energetic four-year-old who loves to scamper through the house in a leotard , practicing her tumbling skills .
“ She absolutely loves gymnastics . It ’ s her biggest excitement ,” mother Lorissa Cummings said , noting that McKenzie began taking gymnastic classes last fall . “ She says she wants to be a competitive gymnast when she grows up .”
Her parents are convinced that McKenzie ’ s work ethic and determination will enable her to achieve anything she wants , despite having Schizencephaly , an extremely rare neurological disorder that impacts development . They credit McKenzie ’ s work with physical , occupational and developmental therapists at Sarah Bush Lincoln for helping her to strengthen the muscles on her weaker left side and to master the routine skills that other children take for granted . “ She can do anything any kid her age can do ; she just has to work a little bit harder ,” her father , Korey Hawkins , said .
McKenzie was just six months old when her parents noticed that she wasn ’ t using her left hand at all when she reached for toys or held her bottle . Pediatric nurse practitioner Noelle Cope , APN , provided the family with a referral to Early Intervention to start physical
4 healthstyles january 2017