Emma Mansour

Emma is a happy, sweet and active toddler who brings much joy to her family. When Emma was 17 months old, she wasn’t meeting gross motor milestones to help her start walking, her parents became concerned. “She was very frustrated with not being able to walk,” her mother, Amanda said.

After a discussion with her pediatrician, it was recommended she have physical therapy. Emma began working with physical therapist, Katie at the Memorial Health Dwaine & Cynthia Willett Children’s Hospital of Savannah pediatric outpatient therapy.

Amanda says they learned that not only did Emma have very flat feet, but also low muscle tone. Katie recognized Emma needed extra support and correction from SMO (supramalleolar orthosis) braces. These foot and ankle orthotic braces are barely visible when wearing shoes. Emma calls the braces her “princess shoes.”

Katie has done an amazing job with making physical therapy fun. Amanda shares “In the beginning, Emma was very hesitant to go to physical therapy, but now she is always excited to walk in to ‘play.’ Katie quickly built rapport, gained Emma’s trust and built her strength through these therapy sessions. Emma began showing progress in her physical therapy sessions where she took her first steps! She walked out of the physical therapy session with her new “princess shoes" smiling and waving to everyone.”

Emma would walk while she was in physical therapy but not when she was at home. Amanda explained they spent time working on her physical therapy homework. After a couple of months, she finally started making progress outside of physical therapy. Happily, Amanda exclaims that “Her first steps at home were to her three-year-old brother. He has been her biggest cheerleader. She hasn’t stopped walking since that day!”

Emma continues to show progress in meeting gross motor milestones in physical therapy. Amanda credits Katie for helping “Emma gain confidence, independence and overall, more happiness.”