Aurora Beard was named for the Disney princess Aurora in the Sleeping Beauty story. It fits. She is a beauty.

Aurora Beard Shines Bright As An Inspiration To Quad-CitiesThere is another meaning for the name Aurora, which also fits. Aurora Beard is a natural light display, in spite of her physical challenges.

Aurora is an active 5-year-old who wheels herself around, plays Challenger League baseball and is gaining independence with the therapies available from Genesis Outpatient Pediatric Therapy (GOPEDS).

Aurora was born at 7 pounds, a healthy weight, but soon it became apparent she was not developing on schedule and was not growing as expected.

“From the beginning she didn’t grow or progress physically,’’ explained Angela Beard, Aurora’s mother. “The diagnosis was ‘a failure to thrive.’’’

Aurora Beard Shines Bright As An Inspiration To Quad-CitiesAccording to Johns Hopkins Hospital, Children are diagnosed with failure to thrive when their weight or rate of weight gain is significantly below that of other children of similar age and sex. Infants or children who fail to thrive may be dramatically smaller than other children the same age.

Angela Beard was also told Aurora was hypotonic, which is a condition of abnormal muscle tone, stalling physical development.

“But why? We didn’t know. She could sit independently. She was losing skills she already had because she had no strength. She wasn’t progressing or growing,’’ Angela Beard explained. “Something else was happening.’’

Spinal Muscular Atrophy

The “something else’’ was diagnosed as spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), a group of inherited conditions that damage nerve cells in the spinal Aurora Beard Shines Bright As An Inspiration To Quad-Citiescord. Over time the damage progresses and can affect swallowing, breathing, sitting and walking.

The Beards didn’t know they carried the gene that placed Aurora at higher risk for SMA.

Aurora Beard Shines Bright As An Inspiration To Quad-CitiesThere is typing of SMA. Angela Beard said Aurora is Type 2. Aurora may always need a wheelchair and over time could develop other physical challenges.

Making Progress at GOPEDS

At GOPEDS with her therapists, Aurora is that shining natural light. On a recent day she was totally engaged with physical activities and games directed by occupational therapist Ashley Devaney. Aurora crawled, rolled, sat up, scooted around to work on balance and worked on fine motor skills by playing games. She can pull herself into her wheelchair.

Aurora will have a year of pre-K, then will start kindergarten. In addition to gym workouts, she has sessions in the pool available at GOPEDS.

“She loves therapy and it has helped tremendously,’’ Angela Beard said. “She can sit up again. Her core strength is improving. She is back to where she was prior to the diagnosis.”

The Quad Cities River Bandits recognize Genesis therapy success stories with their Home Runs for Life celebrations. Aurora and her family will have their night at the ballpark on Aug. 27.

For more information about GOPEDS programs, go to www.genesishealth.com/gopeds. To schedule an appointment, call (563) 421-3497.

Aurora Beard Shines Bright As An Inspiration To Quad-Cities
Sean Leary is an author, director, artist, musician, producer and entrepreneur who has been writing professionally since debuting at age 11 in the pages of the Comics Buyers Guide. An honors graduate of the University of Southern California masters program, he has written over 50 books including the best-sellers The Arimathean, Every Number is Lucky to Someone and We Are All Characters.
Aurora Beard Shines Bright As An Inspiration To Quad-Cities

Free Breaking News
Alerts & Daily Digest
In Your Inbox!

Advertisement