Riding Toward Resilience
For Wendy Elman, becoming a mother felt like a miracle.
“Matthew was the child that I never thought I would be able to have,” she says. “He truly was a miracle.”
But not long after he was born, Wendy began noticing signs that something wasn’t quite right.
Doctors initially diagnosed Matthew with developmental delays. As appointments and evaluations continued, Wendy found herself facing the uncertainty many parents know all too well: searching for answers while worrying about what the future might hold.
“We worried a lot about Matthew. We worried about what they were finding and what was wrong with him,” Wendy recalls. “But we didn’t have to worry about how we were going to pay for it because Abbott’s insurance was just great.”
Over the years, Matthew saw specialists and participated in a variety of therapies designed to support his development. Our ability to access care early and consistently made a tremendous difference in Matthew’s progress.
One of the most impactful recommendations came from an occupational therapist shortly after Matthew started school. The therapist suggested something Wendy had never heard of before: hippotherapy, a specialized form of therapy that incorporates horses into treatment.
“They recommended Partners for Progress,” Wendy says. “They have certified physical, speech, and occupational therapists, so they’re doing therapy and using the horse.”
Matthew began the therapy when he was just three years old. Looking back, Wendy still marvels at those early sessions.
“To see him get on top of that giant horse and to just climb up there, it’s actually mind-boggling to me,” she says.
Year after year, Matthew continued participating in therapy. Slowly, Wendy watched him build strength, confidence, coordination, and resilience.
Today, Matthew is approaching 18 years old, and the progress is impossible to miss.
“He’s gotten stronger physically. He’s gotten stronger emotionally,” Wendy says.
The journey has also deepened her appreciation for the benefits that helped make that progress possible.
Not every insurance plan covers specialized therapies, particularly over an extended period of time. Knowing that Matthew could continue receiving the support he needed allowed Wendy and her family to focus on his growth instead of financial barriers.
“Thanks to Abbott and just the incredible insurance that they have, we felt really blessed.” – Wendy Elman
Fourteen years after beginning therapy, Matthew continues to surprise his family.
“Matthew has spent the last 14 years evolving and growing into the person he is today,” Wendy says.
And she believes his story is still being written.
“We’re not sure yet where he is going to take us, but we’re excited to see it,” she says. “We know that he’s yet to show us everything he can do.”
For Wendy, that’s the greatest outcome of all: the opportunity to watch her son continue growing, learning, and exceeding expectations, one milestone at a time.
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