MyChart
Meet Our Parent Mentors
Tara
Tara is a mentor for parents caring for a child with cerebral palsy and/or learning disorders, including ADHD. She also offers mentorship related to physical medicine and rehabilitation and orthopedics care services.
My son Killian has perventricular leukomalacia, resulting in a diagnosis of cerebral palsy at age two. Since then, he has also been diagnosed with ADHD, anxiety, and specific learning disorder. After using a walker for years, he now uses a wheelchair for mobility. Since his diagnosis, we have tried many therapies, procedures, and extracurricular activities to support Killian. During this time, our family has also lived in three states, giving us experience in navigating different health systems and community resources.
Killian has really enjoyed getting involved with local adaptive sports and activities, and our family has been very pleased with the resources available in this area. While special needs parenting can be very challenging, we feel we have become stronger as a family. We have learned to persevere past things that others couldn't conceive of, and his siblings are very empathetic to others.
I am excited to be a part of the parent mentor program to help other families cope with diagnoses, find resources, and adapt to new procedures. Our family is always happy to share what we've learned with others.
You are not alone.
Caring for a child with complex medical needs can be complicated and overwhelming. Support from someone navigating similar challenges can make all the difference.