Clive does most of the things two-year-olds do. He hams it up with the full attention of every adult in the room.

He gives hugs and blows kisses. He laughs and runs around exploring.He gets a big smile on his
face as he sees his mother and runs full speed into her for a hug.

Christa, Clive's mom, tells the story like a mother who has seen a bad dream become a good one.

“The doctor asked to talk to us in private,” said Christa about the day Clive was born. “She told us that Clive is a down syndrome baby, and I just went numb. I had so many questions, but mainly I just
wanted to hold my new baby boy.”

Clive was in isolation and then in the NICU for a month. During that time, Christa was comforted by family, but also first experienced the awkwardness of friends who did not know what to say to her about her situation. She began to learn the answers to her questions from doctors and nurses, whether she wanted to hear them or not.

One of those answers brought Clive to Willowood Developmental Center , where he was in three different kinds of therapy to develop as a typical child.

“Everyone kept telling me to get him in with typical children,” said Christa. “So, I chose Willowood. Also because it meant that Clive could have therapy more often.”

Willowood Developmental Center Preschool serves developmentally delayed and typical children.

“The children learn a lot from each other.” said Julie Crump, Willowood Director of Development, “The developmentally delayed children imitate the typical children and the typical children help nurture them and treat them with compassion.”

Christa is very pleased with Clive's accomplishments because of Willowood. She said, “We've had a lot of milestones. The first time Clive sat up by himself, I wanted to call his physical therapist, even though it was the middle of the night, I was so happy.”

One thing Clive never did was crawl. He scooted everywhere on his bottom, and the Willowood staff nicknamed him G. I. Joe. Christa laughs as she talks about what happened when she was trying to get him to crawl, “I was expecting him to start crawling, and he just stood up and started cruising around the table. He just skipped crawling and went straight to walking.”

It was another milestone that Clive might not have reached so soon if it weren't for Willowood.

“I am so thankful Willowood is there for us,” said Christa. “Clive is thriving there and everyone loves him.”

Clive is a bundle of energy and possibility. His future is bright because of the love of his family and because of the preschool program at Willowood.

Last year the United Way along with community partners helped thousands of kids reach their full potential. To find out more about these programs go to our community impact page.