At just 5 years old, Dennis has a story of courage that stretches far beyond his small frame, a frame he moves and rolls independently, thanks to the advanced cerebral palsy care (CP) his family found at Shriners Children’s Chicago.
Shortly after his first birthday, Dennis was diagnosed with spastic diplegia cerebral palsy by doctors in Michigan, where the family lives. Cerebral palsy is a condition that affects a child’s muscle tone, movement and coordination. In this case, the family was given little hope for their child’s future.
When he was diagnosed, we were told he wouldn’t walk, talk or speak, but we don’t allow the word can’t in our house. That was Papa’s rule – you can do anything.
Maria and her husband, Dennis Jr, were approached by a friend at their church who is a Shriner. “We didn’t know the process, but as soon as we called, we started to realize this was the best decision we made.”
Dennis’s first visit was in 2021, when he was a little over a year old. His pediatric orthopedic surgeon, Kelsey Davidson, M.D., has played a pivotal role in his care. “She was the first doctor he didn’t cry with when she touched his legs during an exam,” Maria said. “That told us everything we needed to know and, as a family, put us at ease.”
While working in partnership with rehabilitation professionals nearby, Shriners Children’s Chicago has become a second home for this family. The staff provides specialized care for Dennis’s spastic diplegia, which primarily affects his leg muscles and makes his gait different from that of a typical 5-year-old.
His visits, usually every six months, increased this year as he began more targeted treatments, including Dysport injections. Botulinum toxin is sometimes used in small doses as a treatment to reduce muscle spasticity.
“We’re always looking to improve the standard of care and making sure we’re offering the safest and best care for our patients with cerebral palsy and other orthopedics-related conditions,” Dr. Davidson said. The family spent 18 months discussing the treatment with clinicians in Detroit and at Shriners Children’s before moving forward.
“He’s doing great,” his dad said proudly. “After the Dysport, I stretched his ankles, and they weren’t stiff like usual. He only complained a little about being sore.”
He also had serial casting. The term “serial” is used because each cast is one in a series that progressively stretches the muscle or joint a bit further each time. Dad said the goal for Dennis is to stretch his tight calf muscles and help with the “scissoring” that causes his legs to cross over one another when he walks. “My feet stick out,” Dennis said after first getting a cast on each leg from foot to mid-calf.
Dennis brings color and joy to every visit, always excited to pick a new cast color. His most recent choice? Red – his favorite. “Why red?” someone asked. “Because I did,” he answered confidently. His new wheelchair? Also red. “Red, red, red – with a splash of blue on the seat,” his mom said with a smile.
To make the road trips more manageable, his parents traveled from the Detroit area to Shriners Children’s Chicago every two weeks, instead of the typical weekly visits during casting.
Now, they share that story of Shriners Children’s every chance they get – at restaurants, on the road, and with stickers on the back of their car. “Someone behind us might have a child with a disability,” said his dad. “We want them to know help is out there.”
Despite the medical hurdles, Dennis is thriving. “His vocabulary is beyond,” his mom said. “The neurologist said he’s at a 6-year-old level.”
His determination is not just visible to his parents. “Dennis has made tremendous progress in four years. He is now using a walker along with his wheelchair. My next goal for Dennis is to move to elbow crutches, which will continue to improve his walking,” said Dr. Davidson.
There was once a time when Dennis’s parents weren’t sure he’d be able to walk or speak. Today, he’s doing all that and more – smiling, playing and living life like any other 5-year-old. Thanks to the compassionate, specialized cerebral palsy care at Shriners Children’s Chicago, Dennis continues to grow – and there’s no doubt his unstoppable spirit will carry him far.
Dennis enjoys a day of fishing along the lake.
Dennis plays on the swing at the adaptive playground in the backyard of Shriners Children's Chicago.
Dennis rides a horse.
Dennis dances with his favorite nurse, Stephanie.
