Ethan's Story

Ethan’s StoryTo look at 5-year-old Ethan today, it’s hard to imagine the incredibly difficult journey he has had to travel to become easily one of the most active and popular youngsters at Meeting Street. Or, as his teachers and therapists say, “If there was an election, he likely would become the ‘Mayor’ of Meeting Street!”

When Ethan joined our Bright Futures Early Learning Center at 18 months old, he was suffering from a rare condition called Prune Belly Syndrome, which greatly affects his kidneys and stomach muscles. For Ethan, this has led to delays in walking, sitting, and everyday tasks such as dressing himself and holding a pencil.

Eventually, Ethan may require dialysis and even a kidney transplant.Because of his condition, Ethan was unable to walk on his own. Gradually our physical therapists were able to get him to take a few steps with a walker ... and then two or three steps on his own.

Janet Daigneau, one of Ethan’s physical therapists, knew that Ethan liked being with people, and she used that to encourage him to keep trying to walk more by telling him that the more he walked, the more people he would meet. With a lot of hard work on Ethan’s part and the skills of our therapists, Ethan not only walks now, but runs so much that it is hard to keep up with him.

Ethan also has learning delays along with his physical challenges. Because he is able to receive the services he needs for both of these issues during his school day at Meeting Street, he is making enormous progress.

“The success he has achieved with the help of Meeting Street is truly amazing. He has learned how to learn. He is now in a fully inclusive kindergarten class and he loves spending the day with his teachers and his classmates. He is communicating in full sentences and is now able to walk and run. By focusing on Ethan’s abilities rather than his disabilities, Meeting Street has helped my son be the best he can be,” said Ethan’s mother in a recent conversation.