Meet 2016 Walk With Me Ambassador Lucilla

At just 3 months old, Lucilla’s parents learned that she had Down syndrome.

“We were shocked. We didn’t know anyone else with Down syndrome,” said Monique, Lucilla’s mom. “My husband and I really had no clue what to do.”

 Shortly after learning of her diagnosis, Lucilla’s parents began working with the early childhood specialists at Southwest Human Development’s Children’s Developmental Center. The developmental team worked in partnership with Lucilla’s family to create a treatment plan that would work specifically for her and her family.

“Hearing Lucilla would need therapy on a regular basis was very scary,” said Monique. “But the therapists walked us through the entire process and made it so much easier for us.”

Aside from providing weekly occupational and speech therapies, the team at Southwest Human Development was able to help connect Lucilla’s family with a community of other families who were all experiencing similar situations.

“So many other families were going through the same thing we were through and it was reassuring to know that we will never have to be in this alone,” said Monique.

Lucilla, now 3 years old, has transitioned out of her weekly therapies with Southwest Human Development, but her parents continue to use the skills they learned to help her further develop and thrive.

Join Lucilla and her family at this year’s Walk With Me fundraising event on Saturday, Feb. 20 at Scottsdale Civic Center Park! Learn more or register today at www.swhd.org/walk!