“The Children’s Institute of Pittsburgh is like our home away from home,” laughs Lisa Ringler. “We spend three days each week here, and every time the kids are so excited to come. I sometimes can’t stop them from running down the hallway to greet their therapists with hugs and homemade gifts.”

The Ringler family includes mom Lisa, dad James, daughters Monica (8), Ashley (7), Rachel (6), Chelsea (5), and Bailey (3), and son Wyatt (1).

Together, the six Ringler children participate in about 15 hours of treatment delivered by The Children’s Institute’s expert team of therapists each week.

“We went to see a developmental pediatrician who conducted thorough evaluations, first for the older girls and then for our younger children,” Lisa explains. “He recommended The Children’s Institute to address our family’s complex needs.”

The underlying cause for their delays is a rare microduplication in a tiny piece of one chromosome. They all have varying degrees of hypermobility and four of the girls have been diagnosed with autism.

This level of complexity requires the knowledge, expertise, and collaborative treatment approach of The Children’s Institute team.

“The therapists at The Children’s Institute are absolutely amazing,” describes Lisa. “They are so well trained and so caring. We are connected with multiple physical, occupational, and speech therapists who work with the girls and with one another to help them meet their goals. They also invest in me by listening to my concerns, explaining their ideas, and answering my questions. I have learned so much from them.”

Less than a year after beginning services, Monica and Ashley met all their current physical therapy goals. Rachel, Chelsea, and Bailey continue to receive physical therapy services, and the five have weekly occupational and speech therapies. The girls now love to run, skip, and jump. They are building strength and endurance, developing fine motor skills, and making strides with feeding and other sensory issues.

“Because of The Children’s Institute, our daughters are each making progress in their own unique way,” Lisa concludes. “I expect we will be coming to The Children’s Institute for many years as we uncover issues and identify solutions together. I feel confident for their futures, and my kids feel like every visit is the best play date ever.”

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