How Early Childhood Intervention Leads to Joy
When Blanca was pregnant with her daughter, Eva, she underwent genetic testing that indicated Eva had a 98% chance of being born with Down syndrome. Blanca and her husband began learning everything they could about the diagnosis and preparing for the health challenges their daughter might face. Still, they could not fully anticipate the journey their family would endure.
“Eva had a very rough start to her life,” says Blanca Maldonado, Eva’s mother. “When she was born, she spent three weeks in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) because of heart defects.”
Eva was born with an atrial septal defect and a ventricular septal defect, congenital heart conditions that placed added strain on her lungs. After three weeks, she was finally able to leave the NICU, but she still required oxygen support at home. At 4 months old, Eva underwent heart surgery to repair the defects and allow her heart and lungs to function properly.
“Luckily, everything with surgery went according to plan,” says Blanca. “But with her Down syndrome diagnosis and heart surgery, we knew she could benefit from therapy and we were ready to begin her developmental journey.”
In 2021, when Eva was 7 months old, she began receiving early childhood intervention (ECI) services through Brighton Center, a San Antonio nonprofit that provides pediatric therapy, inclusive preschool programs and special education support. For the Maldonado family, it marked the beginning of a new chapter with Brighton Center, but it was not Blanca’s first time walking through its doors.
In 2018, before Eva was born, Blanca was working for an events team and was tasked with finding different nonprofits in San Antonio to volunteer. She met with the leadership at Brighton Center and their time together left a lasting impression.
“I remember my takeaway from that day being filled with much joy and hope,” recalls Blanca. “Everyone there was so passionate about the mission and truly loved making a difference in the families they served.”
When Blanca began searching for an ECI for Eva, she immediately recognized Brighton Center on a list of available organizations. Remembering the compassion and expertise she had witnessed years earlier, she reached out to schedule an appointment.
“After the initial evaluation, I was confident they were the right choice,” says Blanca. “I was certain that Eva had the right team on her side and with every therapy visit she was making strides and that made me more confident as a parent.”
Despite the optimism, Eva’s journey was filled with uncertainties and concerns with her developmental milestones. As parents, Blanca and her husband had to become comfortable with the unknown.
“I am a natural planner,” says Blanca. “We had to let go of planning or foreseeing what Eva’s future would look like.”
When Eva was 4 years old, her therapists identified her biggest challenge was speech. They increased her speech therapy to focus on signing while speaking two-word sentences and one day Blanca got the best surprise.
“One night, I was in the kitchen making dinner and Eva randomly walked up and said, ‘more milk,’ using both her words and signing,” says Blanca. “I was surprised and overjoyed! At the time, Eva had only been pointing and making sounds, this was such a big win.”
Today, Eva is excelling in school and making new friends wherever she goes. She continues to meet and exceed the goals set before her while sharing her joy for life with those around.
“She loves talking to people and putting smiles on their faces,” says Blanca. “I love seeing her personality come out as her communication improves.”
For the Maldonado family, Brighton Center has become more than place for therapy or special education; it’s a community of growth and hope.
“Eva was welcomed with open arms, encouraged to be herself and was nurtured by all of her therapists and teachers,” says Blanca. “If you’re unsure about your child’s future, Brighton is where you can find hope and community. We sure did.”
Key Takeaways:
- Founded in 1969, Brighton Center is San Antonio’s largest nonprofit dedicated to providing early intervention services to children with disabilities and developmental delays. Learn more about their mission and the services they provide here.
- At Warm Springs Foundation, we proudly support Brighton Center along with others in our Circle of Care who provide life-altering possibilities for those living with disabilities.