Up and away: Lia's family take on Down Syndrome

Another Sunny Sunday story.

Lia is a sweet, striking five-year-old girl who happens to be born with Down Syndrome. (As always, a reminder that we almost never publish the actual name or likeness of children in our programs. The facts of each case, however, are always completely accurate and true as published.)

Accepted into the Malki Foundation’s Therapies at Home program in 2017 when she was two and a half years old, this lovely little child's skills were limited: she could manage to sit by herself, stand up with the help of someone else, and crawl by pulling herself along on her stomach. She was unable to walk and had reached overall developmental milestones appropriate to those of a 10 month old baby.

With the help of our backing, Lia's family got her started with intensive physiotherapy twice a week. After a year, she had already started crawling properly, could stand unaided and was able to take a few steps by herself. 

In fact, the progress report we received at the end of that year quantified this, showing Lia had already improved to the point where she was functioning at the level of a 15 month old.

Then a year ago, we were told that Lia’s walking at the age of three and a half had stabilized. She could walk independently. She can also say a few words. And aided by an Apple iPad, she can communicate with the world around her.

Often, with the right help and determinations, children with Down Syndrome reach their development milestones - but do it just a little slower than other children would. Lia, with the peerless help of supportive parents and quality therapeutic intervention, is an example of that. 

Here at the Malki Foundation, we are so proud of being part of her amazing progress!

For more stories about the Malki Foundation’s kids, please go to https://kerenmalki.org/kids/

Please keep in mind - and tell your friends - that no fewer than eighty families from every part of Israel's political, ethnic and religious spectrum are currently on the Malki Foundation waiting list, waiting to see their child benefit in ways similar to how David and his family have.

We simply don't have the financial resources to admit them. This is a terrible shame. If you can help us make the waiting list a little smaller by clicking here, you will have our sincere appreciation.

Helping Yonah learn to eat and drink on his own

OT for acquiring eating skills [Illustrative image only]

Yonah is 5 years-old, a happy child who has Down Syndrome and in addition was diagnosed with West Syndrome as a baby. Sometimes known as Infantile Spasm, West is a severe form of epilepsy which is associated with brain damage and developmental delays.

He crawls and can take a few steps with encouragement and is eager to learn. Yonah laughs out loud when enjoying activities with his family and therapist.

Due to his complicated and difficult medical situation, Yonah is not able to go to day care and his doctors have recommended that he remain at home for another year. Although he receives therapies as part of his home-care plan, what he receives is nowhere near enough.

Yonah's very dedicated parents searched for a way to meet his needs.

Thanks to the Malki Foundation's innovative Zlata Hersch Memorial Therapists on Wheels Program (TOW) program which started in 2011, Yonah gets Occupational Therapy sessions in his own home at least once a week. The therapist, whose time and travel expenses are entirely covered by the Malki Foundation program, drives about 25 minutes there and back each time she makes a professional visit to Yonah's family.

This year’s therapy goals are to encourage Yonah to achieve independent eating and drinking, as well as to start using a touch screen for communication.

To some, these may seem like relatively minor skills. But acquiring them will have an enormous impact on Yonah and on his family’s quality of life. We're proud of all of them, and of the wonderful TOW program that makes such a difference in people's lives.