Early Intervention After Perinatal Stroke: Our Journey

Chapter 3

When we finally left the NICU, I remember wondering… what happens next? Thankfully, Children’s Hospital in Denver didn’t just discharge us and send us on our way. They made sure we were set up with the resources we’d need. Within days, people were reaching out to connect us with our county’s Early Intervention program. And the best part? All of it was free.

From the very beginning, Olive had physical therapy (PT), occupational therapy (OT), and speech therapy. The therapists came to our home, helped us set goals, and walked us through what milestones to watch for. If you aren’t automatically connected with these kinds of services after leaving the NICU, please advocate for your child. Ask what resources are available. The earlier you begin, the better the outcomes can be.

Support Beyond Therapy

One incredible part of our program was the annual stipend we received to buy items that would support Olive’s development. This made such a difference. Here are just a few of the long list of things we were able to get from this stipend:

A hand splint to encourage use of her right hand
Toys designed for fine motor skills and reaching
Therapy putty for hand strengthening
A Pikler triangle to help her climb using both sides of her body
A Strider bike to build equal balance and strength on both sides

The list was long, and honestly, life-changing. Having financial support meant we didn’t have to choose between the “must-haves”. We could give Olive every opportunity to succeed.

Therapy in Action

In the early days, Olive had PT and OT once a week. As she grew and made progress, those visits shifted to every other week. Her speech therapy was less frequent, since she was always a strong talker, but her OT did work with us on her weak mouth muscles. When Olive started daycare at just four months old, her therapists even visited her at school sometimes, which was such a gift. It meant her growth and development were supported in every environment.

We also learned so much as parents during these visits: how to encourage milestones, what exercises to practice at home, and how to create daily routines that supported her development.

Transitioning Out of Early Intervention

Early Intervention ends at age three where we live. By then, Olive had made huge progress. While the free services ended, she was able to qualify for an IEP (Individualized Education Program) once she started preschool two days a week through universal pre-k. That IEP gave her continued access to PT and OT at the elementary school, about 30 minutes to an hour each week.

If you’re ever hesitant about pursuing an IEP, please don’t be. It’s not a label to be afraid of; it’s a tool that opens doors to support your child. For Olive, those extra years of PT and OT through her IEP gave her just what she needed.

Now that she’s in kindergarten, we know her IEP will likely end soon, since you can’t qualify solely for physical needs, there has to be an academic component. So far, Olive shows no signs of struggle in school, and we couldn’t be happier about that. Still, we’ll always be grateful for the time she had with extra support, because every little bit truly helps.

What I Want Other Parents to Know

Early Intervention works. It helps both the child and the family. It gave us confidence, resources, and a team walking beside us during those early years. If you’re walking this road with your own child, I encourage you to:

Ask about available resources as soon as you leave the NICU.
Say yes to PT, OT, and speech, even if you’re not sure your child “needs” all of them.
Don’t shy away from an IEP if it’s offered. It can only help.

Olive’s story is proof that with the right support, our kids can make incredible progress.