At Partners in Child Development’s end of year board meeting, parents spoke about their individual experiences with each program that comprises Partners in Child Development.
Caroline shared her story of her oldest, Whitman, affectionately called “Whit”. It was when Whit was four months old that neurological tests started to highlight a potential neurological abnormality. After multiple doctor’s visits, examinations, and a brain MRI, his medical team made an initial diagnosis of hypomyelinating leukodystrophy (a frightening diagnosis that ended up not being correct).
As working parents, Caroline and Tyler began the juggle all that working parents face, with the additional complexities of finding the care that Whit needed. They did not have any local family as a support system and looked to build the network to support their lives and deliver the services needed for Whit’s care and development.
A new job opportunity for Tyler meant relocation from Maryland to Massachusetts. Caroline and Tyler defined their home search based on where they could receive the quality of care and support that they wanted. Online searches determined that living in North Andover would enable them to leverage the quality programs within Partners in Child Development including Early Intervention Services and, as Whit grew, Anderson School.
Today, Caroline describes Anderson School as ‘a lifesaver’; finding a school where Whit has had the continuity of being a student for four years and the family has built a community. She describes how her professional life is important to her and provides additional meaning and fulfillment to her life alongside her role as a mother. With Partners in Child Development and Anderson School, she has the peace of mind that all of Whit’s needs are met and he is cared for by an ‘exceptional team’ throughout the school day, giving her the gift of being able to continue to work. She remarks on the incredible value of continuity, including classroom nurse Amanda who has been with Whit since day one!
From first-time parents living far away from any family receiving a serious diagnosis for their infant boy to now having a community for support, friendship, and a network has been quite a journey. She now has an extended “family” with Anderson School: dedicated, compassionate, and skilled teachers and professionals, along with fellow Anderson School parents and families. While children have differing diagnoses, there is great commonality and camaraderie in supporting each other.
She loves the daily communications with notes and pictures and shares and Whit’s younger sister Mae enjoys them too as she knows all his friends and teachers!
Caroline summarizes her experience with Partners in Child Development and Anderson School as one for which she is ‘deeply grateful,’ especially for the support and services provided to her son, which in turn support her family.
Many of our board members have similar experiences to Caroline as parents of children with special needs. They bring their personal experiences to shape the future of Partners in Child Development with an ongoing focus and commitment to serve more families to nurture the growth and development of every child to maximize their fullest potential.
We are so grateful to Caroline for joining our board meeting and sharing her family’s story.
Whit is an absolute pleasure and a treasured student at Anderson School.
Learn more about Anderson School.
Watch a brief video on how a tour changed a career path.
