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On May 17, 2003, to our wonderful surprise, my husband and I found that we were expecting.

My obstetrician informed us we had naturally produced three individual sacs. At 8 weeks, we had one remaining embryo.

At 9 weeks, we were told we had lost our precious baby-to-be.

When we returned to the hospital a week later , a sonogram found a vital heartbeat of 170 beats per minute!

The remaining months went smoothly, without any complications until I had exactly eight weeks left in my pregnancy.

I felt that our child was no longer moving. Reluctantly, I called the doctor’s office at 5 p.m. on a Friday.

A sonogram revealed no movement, so we were sent to the adjoining hospital for an examination that dumbfounded everyone. Our baby was not moving, and her heart rate was inconsistent.

The doctor said something was wrong with our baby and he couldn’t go home without delivering it. Our baby was to be born within 5 minutes by emergency C-section.

Five minutes later, our beautiful baby girl, Sydni Rose Birnbach, arrived. The cord had been wrapped around her neck two times and she was tethered down by it, unable to move.

She was crying loud and strong with a mass of auburn hair covering her tiny head. Her Apgar scores were normal, and she required no oxygen.

For six months, we saw no signs of anything wrong, with the exception of some mild torticollis (twisted neck). But, we did notice an unusual early preference for her right hand.

After much urging, our pediatrician referred us to a neurologist with the direction to just go and get an evaluation, so we could quit worrying about it.

After an MRI, we returned to the neurologist’s office to face a picture of our sweet baby’s brain. She had had a stroke, possibly in utero. She was diagnosed hemiplegic and later minimally triplegic — with possibly all four limbs affected.

Why? No one is sure. Possibly twin-twin transfusion.

We began receiving in-home services in New Jersey of approximately 15 sessions a week, including occupational therapy, physical therapy and speech-language therapy.

Then we had the opportunity to move to North Carolina. Little did we know, the stars had been perfectly aligned for our precious baby.
After an afternoon of golf one day, my husband’s friend asked him if he had heard of Gateway Education Center. We decided to check it out.

I called to Taylor Swink in the Gateway’s Infant/Toddler program and received an open-armed welcome to visit.

The school was bright and cheerful, a happy place to be. We walked down the halls, full of smiling staff members and children, and into the Infant/Toddler wing. Sunshine. Pure sunshine and light. Happy, engaged singing children, excited animated teachers.
I began to cry. We knew this was home. Our daughter would fit in and be loved, nurtured and challenged to be the very best she could be.

This was to be the beginning of a remarkable three years of growth.
Sydni received help from qualified therapists who understood pediatric stroke/cerebral palsy and the challenges it poses for children. They made home visits to see that her environment was structured properly for her to best reach milestones.

Her physical therapist called to ask me what type of walker Sydni had used in New Jersey. I explained that she had never used a walker and was unable to walk. The therapist came, bringing a walker, and Sydni began walking with one.

When she began the Infant/Toddler program, Sydni had little to no language skills. Four months later, she had repeated a word, and eight months later, she was speaking in three- to four-word sentences. I don’t think she has stopped talking yet!

Sydni’s therapists provided more than 24/7 support. They helped us make decisions regarding our daughter’s orthotic equipment and gave us advice on adaptations to help her better use her motor ability.

Sydni’s therapists, to this day, even after Gateway, make themselves available to discuss any concerns we have.

Shantra Beane, preschool guidance counselor, held monthly parent support meetings, and while they were tear-filled, often those tears were of joy for the successes children had made.

One wonderful day when children of all ages were honored was called “Star Student.” This was no sticker-on-your-shirt event, but a major production with guests, decorations, certificates, handshakes, applause and tears.

Sydni made the move to preschool. Linda Lyon, school principal, and Shantra Beane helped with the difficult transition.

In the spring of her first preschool year, Sydni’s doctor told us she probably would not walk on her own. Sydni and her physical therapists refused to believe it, and three months later — at the age of 4 years, 3 months — Sydni was walking.

After two years in the preschool, Sydni was ready for the inclusion program at Gateway. Her academic skills soared, and she continued to grow in language and motor areas.

Sydni now attends Millis Road School and is a welcome participant in the general education kindergarten program there. She participates in baseball, soccer, horseback riding, swimming and ballet.

Thank you United Cerebral Palsy, Linda Mixson Lyon, Gateway staff and therapists for the most generous part you have played in ensuring a successful future for Sydni. You have protected her, nurtured her and challenged her.
We will forever be grateful.

Written by Kelli Birnbach, the mother of a graduate of the Infant/Toddler Program, Greensboro Cerebral Palsy Association, which receives support from United Way of Greater Greensboro.