Working on the Front Lines

     Sophia celebrated her 12th birthday this past week.   I can't believe that she is already 12 years old!  Seems like not too long ago she was still my little girl, now she is almost as tall as me.  Sophia had a nice birthday celebration complete with a birthday cake and card from the Jonas Brothers.  You have to read my previous post to understand the Jonas Brothers connection/obsession.  And for those of you interested:  The Jonas Brothers aka me get about 20 text messages a day from Sophia that say, "call me.  call me.  call me.  call me now." 

     This past week also marked a very special anniversary.  Six years ago this week we were blessed to have Kathy Kelly walk through our doors.  Kathy is Sophia's full-time Therapeutic Staff Support (TSS).  The technical definition of a TSS is to  provide one-on-one interventions to a child or adolescent at home, school,  or community settings when the behavior without this intervention would require a more restrictive treatment or educational setting. Specific therapeutic staff support services include: crisis intervention techniques, immediate behavioral reinforcements, emotional support, time structuring activities, and time out strategies.  Basically, Kathy is "on the front lines" with Sophia working to help her successfully get through each day.  She goes to school full time with her (32 hours per week) and spends 8 hours per week at home and in the community setting with her.  There are specific goals that Sophia is working on daily that revolve around her coping and social skills, behavior difficulties, and academics.  Being a TSS is a tough job and Kathy is undoubtedly a very very good TSS.  She has been with Sophia since Kindergarten and has weathered many difficult times with Sophia.   If you would have known Sophia 7 years ago, you would be amazed at how far she has come. 

     Rewind seven years....Seven years ago, our family was in a very difficult place with Sophia.  Sophia was 5 years old.  She was totally out of control, aggressive toward herself and others, couldn't be trusted, destructive (she punched through two of her bedroom windows) and unpredictable.  I caught her choking her baby brother numerous times and she would often attack me out of the blue while I was driving down the highway.  The family was in turmoil, my husband and I were at odds with at each other...her behavior created so much tension.  I had bruises and scars all over my arms and legs from Sophia biting and hitting me.  It got to the point that I just let her bite and kick because I did not know what else to do.  Sophia was asked to leave her specialized preschool because they did not know how to handle her behavior.  Remember this is a petite adorable 5 year old child! We were so desperate for help that we went as far as seeking inpatient treatment but she was too young.  For 4 weeks during the Summer of 2005, we took her for intensive out patient behavior treatment at Developmental FX in Denver, Colorado.  Finally, someone could look at Sophia and see what was setting her off and give us a working behavioral plan to deal with her behaviors.  There is not enough time or space to go into all the details about Sophia's behavior plan but basically (and I mean very basically) it was about teaching Sophia coping skills of which she had none.  It entailed structuring every single minute of Sophia's day with pictures and schedules. It included ways to facilitate better communication.  It meant being 110% consistent and patient with a very difficult child. 

     The past 6 years has been a lot in intensive work but Sophia is doing well now.  She is mainstreamed at school but gets extra reading and math help.  There is no doubt that Sophia is doing so well today because of all the years of intensive and consistent work that Kathy has given.   She has always been patient and understanding and has never given up on Sophia.  Sophia's life is about peaks and valleys.  It's about encountering all the obstacles and challenges that life presents and not backing down even when backing down is the easier route.   We certainly revel in the times that Sophia is at her best but the times that she is in a "valley" often last 1-2 months.  These times are terribly stressful and draining but with consistency and hard work we always emerge with new understanding about how Sophia is affected by her disability and ways to deal with her behaviors.   Kathy has tried new behavioral approaches with determination and passion.  She has been there with Sophia through some pretty difficult times and has been with Sophia through some pretty awesome times.  I have peace of mind when I send Sophia to school that she has a strong advocate in Kathy.  I have peace of mind that someone is pushing Sophia to help reach her fullest potential.  Sophia and Kathy have forged a strong bond over the years.  Sometimes Sophia even slips and calls me "Miss Kathy" which I take as a compliment.  

      So, to Miss Kathy and all the TSS's that work " on the front lines" with our children thank you. You're half way to high school graduation Miss Kathy! 


Miss Kathy and Sophia (age 5 1/2)
Twin Day in Kindergarten
2005

Miss Kathy and Sophia - February 2011 
Celebrating 12 years old and 6 years of teamwork