Success Stories
Team Payton
Payton Light was diagnosed with cerebral palsy just months after her first birthday. Her parents, Bob and Carrie, were overwhelmed by the prospect that their daughter may never walk, talk or reach the same developmental milestones as her twin sister, Jillian. When Bob and Carrie first heard about UCP of Greater Cleveland, and decided to learn more about what UCP had to offer, they were simply looking for ‘a little hope.’
Intesar Taye, Director of Children’s Services, played with Payton and watched how she interacted with her surroundings. She assured Bob and Carrie that with the right therapies, Payton would thrive. This news gave Bob and Carrie the hope they were looking for. They enrolled their daughter in physical and occupational therapy at UCP and saw immediate progress. Over the past eighteen months of traditional therapy and two sessions of UCP’s intensive Steps to Independence® program, Payton is now sitting up independently, crawling all over the house and is walking with the aid of her gait trainer/walker. These accomplishments are more than her parents ever imagined possible.
But it’s not just the support of UCP that has helped the Lights through difficult times. Their support system made up of family and friends are truly what keep them grounded. One friend in particular, Lisa Santos, has been an invaluable part of the Light’s life. She was more than supportive of Bob and Carrie when they decided to race in the 24th Annual Cleveland Triathlon in honor of Payton and her accomplishments. Not one to race in a triathlon, Lisa came down on race day and volunteered on behalf of Team UCP, and cheered her friends on as they swam, biked and ran to the finish line.
Lisa was in awe. She didn’t know what to expect coming out on race day, but she soon learned that for members of Team UCP, the Cleveland Triathlon was much more than getting from Point A to Point B. It was a way for families to go beyond their limits! Parents were pulling their children in bike trailers and pushing them in jogging strollers. Families worked together as teams to cross the finish line. Lisa knew she had stumbled upon something much bigger than she had ever expected. She decided to take her status as a Team UCP member to the next level.
At the end of 2010, Lisa committed herself to the Triathlon Committee. Over the past several months, she has sat next to Carrie at meetings providing new perspectives on ways to increase corporate and individual support, ways to expand the participant base, and different ways to reach out to the general community. She created a partnership with her employer, the Cleveland Clinic, to help raise funds and awareness on behalf of Team UCP. And in just two weeks, she will be racing in the 25th Anniversary Cleveland Triathlon alongside dear friends, Bob, Carrie, Jillian, and of course, Payton.
There is no question that the UCP clients and families are amazing – we see evidence of this on a daily basis. And each day, they help spread the word about UCP in their own support systems – and those family members, friends and colleagues become a part of UCP as well. It is because of families like the Lights, friends like Lisa Santos, all of the aunts, uncles, grandparents and cousins we see in the waiting room and at events, as well as so many unnamed athletes and community members that UCP and Team UCP have become the place and the movement they are today.
Team Children’s Services Spotlight
At UCP of Greater Cleveland, we recognize that a strong, dedicated relationship between therapist and child is an important determinant of success or failure of therapy. And to make sure that relationship stays firm, the Physical, Occupational and Speech/Language therapists of UCP’s Children’s Services department work around the clock in order to make sure our clients receive the best care they possibly can.
This year, Children’s Services staff is going above and beyond their call of duty in another way. Over 20 therapists and administrative staff make up Team Children’s Services, the largest department team raising funds and awareness on behalf of Team UCP at the 25th Anniversary Cleveland Triathlon! Many are participating, several are volunteering, and ALL of them will be cheering! Many of them are even bringing their spouses, siblings and children!
Those who are participating have been training throughout the year to show the children that the hard work they put into their therapies is a sign of strength and heroism, and that while every employee at UCP collectively works hard to empower these children, they are equally empowered by merely witnessing their determination and accomplishments.
Intesar Taye, Director of Children’s Services states, “We are fortunate to work with children who strive to do more every day; who put forth tremendous effort to show what they CAN do; who refuse to give up. We pay tribute to them on race day and every day.”
UCP is often described by parents as extension of their own family. What the families may not realize is that the Children’s Services staff often times reciprocates those sentiments. Earlier this year, Children’s Services suffered a big loss. Seven year old, Matthew Pajak passed away. As a tribute to Matty and his family, Team Children’s Services is racing alongside the Pajak family in his memory.
Help Team Children’s Services reach their goal of $10,000. Every penny raised will help to ensure that no child is turned away regardless of their financial circumstances! Donate here!
Team Benjamin
Benjamin Cox is a shining example of success in therapy at UCP of Greater Cleveland, and his family and friends are proof that almost anything is possible when you work together as a team. Ben was born with a heart defect, and during his first 18 months of life, he endured twelve surgical procedures including three open heart operations. The toll it took on his development was significant.
Ben’s parents Matt and Diane did not know what the future held for their son. They had worked with various physicians and service providers throughout the area and were not seeing Ben being pushed to reach his full potential. After Ben’s aunt visited UCP of Greater Cleveland on a workplace tour, they heard about UCP’s intensive therapy program, Steps to Independence, and enrolled him. Within two weeks, he began crawling. From that point, he quickly began pulling himself into standing position independently.
Ben began to access traditional physical, occupational and speech/language therapy at UCP in addition to intermittent Steps to Independence sessions. He continued to progress. Inspired by their son’s advancements, the Cox’s decided to show Ben just how proud they were. Matt made the decision to race in the Cleveland Triathlon as a member of Team UCP. He was not a triathlete when he started out in 2008, but was excited at the prospect of pursuing his first athletic challenge to train with his son. And while he was not able to make it on the actual day of the race, he was determined to complete it. He connected with his local gym, and valiantly swam, biked and ran his way to the ‘finish line.’
What was a one man team in 2008 grew leaps and bounds in 2009. Matt, Diane and Ben, along with over a dozen members of ‘Team Benjamin,’ completed the 23rd Annual Cleveland Triathlon. Matt pushed Ben in a stroller across the finish line, being cheered by family, friends, UCP staff and the community at large. You could easily see the joy and excitement radiating from Ben’s smile as he was rolled into a crowd of his biggest supporters.
Ben continued to work hard and reach milestones, and in 2010 – he took his first steps independently! Matt, Diane and Team Benjamin celebrated this by ramping up their fundraising and awareness efforts EVEN MORE than in the past! And after four years of Ben working hard each and every day to meet his goals, the joy and excitement once again radiated from Ben’s smile as he walked across the finish line amidst cheering spectators alongside family and friends.
This year, while Ben is recovering from hip surgery, Team Benjamin will be back at the Cleveland Triathlon on August 7th with all the other Team UCP families! Why do the Cox’s race in the Cleveland Triathlon? As they put it, “The purpose of ‘Team Benjamin’ is to help raise awareness for UCP and other important organizations, and to provide parents or siblings of individuals with disabilities the educational tools that can help improve their quality of life. We hope to inspire those who deal with disabilities every day so that they can live their life and be special.”
Team Niko Spotlight
Mike and Kasia Lanzarotta realized that their son, Dominik (Niko), still had not started rolling over and sitting up at eight months old – the ‘typical’ milestones for his age group. After spending an emotional weekend in Rainbow Babies and Children’s Hospital that included a video EEG, MRI, spinal tap and various other tests, the Lanzarotta’s made a life-altering discovery – Niko had cerebral palsy.
The Lanzarotta’s did not give up. They committed to making sure their son would receive everything he needed to lead the most independent and productive life possible. In 2008, they entered three year old Niko into UCP’s Steps to Independence® intensive therapy program, a four week session of vigorous physical and occupational therapies. Over the past three years, Niko has participated in traditional therapy combined with with multiple ‘Steps’ sessions, all of which help him reach his fullest potential.
In 2010, Mike and Kasia made the decision to pursue something they had never done before – participate in the 24th Annual Cleveland Triathlon! This decision was not for the thrill of the sport, or even for the desire to get in shape. This was a way that they could show Niko that anything is possible with hard work and determination.
They created Team Niko, a group of 21 participants and 42 spectators. Together, they raised over $11,000 to support the services and programs that Niko and over 1,000 other children access to continually improve their lives.
Since he began at UCP three years ago, Niko has made tremendous progress in his development. He is now able to ride his tricycle on his own, and is able to walk with use of his walker.
Today, Niko is one of the happiest kids you will ever meet.
Mike and Kasia stated, “We are glad to have United Cerebral Palsy as a part of our lives. Not only has UCP helped Niko Change some of his Disabilities into Abilities, they are also providing a great support network for us as a family. With the help from UCP, the best grandparents in the whole world, along with the support from our families, friends and co-workers, we can provide a much brighter future for our son Niko.”
Christian Borrero
Twenty-four year old Christian Borrero is thriving as part of UCP of Greater Cleveland’s Community Employment Program. He sums up what this experience means to him in just one word: independence.
When Christian first joined UCP, he was employed at the National City (now PNC) Operations Center, processing outgoing mail for the bank. In order to seek out ways to become more independent, he requested skills training which allowed him to grow and take on more demanding work responsibilities. This growth afforded him the opportunity to transfer to Fifth Third Bank Northeast Ohio’s Corporate Headquarters. He has now been with Fifth Third for five years and has progressed into positions with increasing duties. He initially worked as an assistant file clerk in the mortgage department where he was assigned the task of organizing all mortgage files for a team of five clerks. He was then promoted to administrative assistant for a team of individuals in the Private Banking Department. He currently holds that position as well as attends to the front reception desk for several hours each day. Christian successfully navigates the structure of the bank and is a true member of the team. While he walks through the facility, he greets all his co-workers with a smile.
Christian continues to grow in all facets of his life. Last year, he moved into his own apartment! As an engaged citizen, he also runs a social group for youth with disabilities. He is also a part of Partners in Policymaking, a leadership training program facilitated through the ARC of Greater Cleveland. This program provides leadership skills training and guidance on how to influence public policy at all levels of government, and all activities are based on the belief that the most effective and enduring public policy decisions are made by the people who need and use services in partnership with elected officials and policymakers.
There is no doubt that Christian is a talented, motivated young man whose skills and drive will allow him to continue his path of success. Watch this short video and hear about his experiences from Christian himself.
