At eight months old, William’s mom Nikki noticed he wasn’t holding his head up like other babies his age. William also has a genetic condition called hypotonia, characterized by low muscle tone. His pediatrician suggested physical therapy and William’s family reached out to 321go Kids to get started.

Now approaching his fifth birthday, William has actively participated in physical therapy since infancy. He possesses a determined personality, displaying a “go-getter” attitude when pursuing his goals.

William’s physical therapist, Diana Clark, has been with him throughout his journey. Initially, William would get frustrated when he couldn’t roll over or sit without help. He was reluctant to push up on his arms and bear weight on his legs. Diana worked with William’s family to establish goals for him which included sitting independently, transitioning to sitting down without assistance, and using his arms to achieve a sitting position.

From the beginning, William demonstrated remarkable progress toward his goals. As a one-year-old, he could sit on his own. Around the age of two, he began working on walking with a walker to boost his confidence and endurance. While learning to walk, William initially struggled with balance, but within a few months he achieved the milestone of walking independently.

“He definitely met goals from the start. But when it really started to be impactful was when he decided to stand up. And when he finally was willing to do that and started to take steps with me or a walker, that was a huge milestone for him and his family to see,” said Diana.

Nikki loved watching her son’s progress and remembers William meeting those early goals.

“He took his first steps unassisted at 321go Kids. Diana was on a rolling stool behind him, and she had to grab his shirt and tell him to slow down because he was taking off through the hallway. It is still one of my favorite moments here,” Nikki shared.

Diana credits William’s family as being a big part of his progress, “His progress is due to the family and their commitment to him. That truly makes a huge difference.”

William’s therapy will continue to focus on promoting independence as his body develops. His current goals include learning to navigate steps and curbs independently, developing jumping skills, and engaging in age-appropriate play.

Nikki shared that her son has developed an interest in T-ball, and they plan to enroll him next year. William’s journey from a struggling toddler to a t-ball player perfectly illustrates 321go Kids’ mission: to help each child discover hope and unleash potential. If your child is not meeting developmental milestones, please fill out the brief questionnaire at 321gokids.com.