It can be difficult for parents to know when a child needs extra support for intellectual or developmental disabilities. For Kristin W., that realization came as her son, Nick, approached kindergarten.
“He was heading toward kindergarten, and I didn’t want him to fall further behind,” said Kristin.
That turned out to be a crucial decision for Nick’s development. At four years old, Nick’s motor skills were developmentally closer to those of a two-and-a-half-year-old. Kristin knew she wanted answers and support to help him move forward.
Easterseals was already familiar to her. Growing up, Kristin had accompanied her mother, who volunteered with Easterseals in Washington, D.C., and she remembered the organization as a place where children and families could find support. When she learned there was an Easterseals near their home, she reached out.
Through an evaluation with a physical therapist at Easterseals Northern California, Kristin learned that Nick had vestibular asymmetry disorder. This caused Nick to have difficulty processing sensory information due to an underdeveloped vestibular nerve, which was having a big impact on his motor development and ability to navigate the world around him.
With the help of physical and speech therapists, Nick started to catch up by working on the skills he had fallen behind in. The progress took time, but it made a lasting difference.
“I don’t know what would have happened in Nick’s life without early intervention,” said Kristin. “Easterseals Northern California’s early therapy is a tremendous support for families.”
Nick continued to face challenges with reading, writing and social development into his teenage years, but he discovered strengths of his own, particularly in math and science. In his 20s, his academic path took off. He went on to study biochemistry at UC Berkeley, work at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, earn his PhD from UC Davis and complete postdoctoral work at Princeton.
Looking back, Kristin remembers how important it was not only to find support for Nick, but also to have support as a parent.
“It’s overwhelming for a parent to realize a child is different,” she said. “I was fortunate to have never felt sad about it, and I think that’s because I was able to get answers about Nick’s condition and had support.”
Years later, when Kristin began working with an estate attorney, she started thinking about the legacy she wanted to leave; Easterseals Northern California came to mind again.
“My attorney said that one of the things you do with your estate is to illustrate values to the children who are inheriting. For me, this is a value of doing something to help people and supporting health care,” she said. “I decided to leave a gift to Easterseals Northern California because they made such a difference in our family’s life. It’s a gift of gratitude.”
For Kristin, the size of the gift was less important than what it represented.
“I don’t have a huge estate, but this felt like a meaningful gift to make.”
A gift through your will or estate plan is a meaningful and impactful way to carry your values forward and help ensure that children, adults and families continue to have access to the support they need. We are honored to be part of the legacy of donors like Kristin, whose generosity can make a difference for generations to come.
