Hard to say goodbye

This is a tough week for us, emotionally. Ryan is starting at a school for special needs children next week. At this new school - which is supposed to be amazing - he will get all of his therapy. In fact, a prerequisite to attend this school is to cut off all outside therapies. They don't want conflicting methods and goals, which can happen if he gets one type of therapy at school and another therapist working on different things in another appointment. I understand, and their methodology makes sense, but it's still hard. All that means that this week, Ryan is having his final appointments with his therapists and I'm getting discharge paperwork from them to provide to his school. We've had several different speech therapists that we've worked with over the last couple of years, but Ashley and Emily, his PT and OT, have been working with Ryan from the start. They've been amazing. The support, encouragement, positive reinforcement, and general developmental foundation that they've helped us with cannot be understated. I've relied on these women for so many things over the last several years and I consider them true allies and sweet friends. While we haven't worked with Barbara, Ryan's speech therapist, for as long as the others, I've really enjoyed getting to know her and I appreciate her ST knowledge and her energy.

So, this is a sad week. It's very difficult to say goodbye to these incredible ladies that mean so much to Ryan and to me. They've been through so much with us and have become almost like an extension of family.

I refuse to think that this is an official goodbye. Maybe it will be more like a "see ya later" and under different circumstances. Like, maybe they will participate on our March of Dimes team for the walk next spring, or meet up for ice cream with us, or come see Ryan walk and talk in an epic celebration! I don't want to lose touch with them. They're too important and special to us.

Pictures of final therapy sessions with Ashley and Barbara and Emily from this week:

Ryan and Miss Ashley

Working hard on standing up

Getting some loving

We love Miss Ashley and will miss her so nuch!

Snacks with Miss Barbara

Choosing between different pictures

Ryan and Miss Emily

Eating lunch with Miss Emily

She's so helpful! We love her!