Wesley's Story

When five-year-old Wesley first arrived at Turnstone in August 2023, he had already faced a long and challenging journey. Wesley was born with two rare diseases that cause symptoms like low muscle tone, difficulties with speech, severe oral aversion (fear/sensitivity of food, drink, or objects touching their mouth), and developmental delays. These challenges made everyday life incredibly tough for Wesley and his family.

Wesley's parents spent over four years seeking answers and support for his complex medical needs. It was a struggle to find the specific help they were looking for. Many previous therapy locations approached his symptoms as behavioral issues rather than medical ones. The turning point came in the spring of 2023 when Wesley's mom decided to contact Turnstone and connect with the compassionate social work team. This decision marked a new beginning for Wesley and his family, thanks to the resources made possible by donations.

At Turnstone, Wesley works with a team of therapists and receives a combination of services tailored to his unique needs. He participates in two feeding sessions, two traditional speech sessions, and one augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) session weekly, along with an hour of occupational therapy. He's also on the waitlist for aquatic therapy. Turnstone’s full range of service offerings have been very beneficial to his improvement. Wesley no longer has to choose between eating and communicating; he can work on both.

“We learned that speech services can be separated into different sessions and that you aren’t left to choose between AAC therapy, [traditional] speech therapy, and feeding therapy… Before we came to Turnstone, I would be forced to choose between which speech therapy service Wes would receive during that session,” said Wesley’s mom, Miranda. “I had to look at Wesley and decide which is more important, eating or communicating?” Once he came to Turnstone, Wesley had the opportunity to access all three types of therapies without having to choose one over the others.

At home, the impact of Turnstone's therapies is evident. His mom attends therapy sessions so she can learn how to help him at home. This has enabled the family to enjoy meals together, a milestone they couldn't have imagined before. Wesley's feeding therapist has been instrumental in addressing his difficulties in eating. She respects Wesley's fear of food and honors his stress cues. Turnstone’s therapy team also created laminated handouts to help Wesley's siblings understand his feeding disorder, fostering a supportive environment.

Wesley's AAC and speech therapists have been equally transformative. His speech therapist’s patience and teaching have significantly improved Wesley's ability to communicate. With all of his progress, Wesley now earns praise for his speech from therapists, family members, and doctors alike. And his AAC therapist uses communication devices to engage with him. In one memorable session, Wesley’s mom recalled, “…she and Wes read a book communicating only with their [AAC devices]! I loved it! She teaches me how to use his [AAC device] which I am so grateful for!”

Wesley's progress at Turnstone has brought immense joy to his family. His ability to join family meals and his newfound confidence in using his voice are milestones that fill his loved ones with pride. Through all the challenges, Wesley's spirit shines bright. He is a joyful, kind-hearted boy who always wears a smile.

Thanks to continued support from donors, Turnstone has provided Wesley with essential therapies and given him a path forward and his family hope. The support and expertise found at Turnstone have been life-changing, helping Wesley achieve progress that once seemed out of reach.