Each month, CDTC staff nominate one of our children as our Hero of the Month. Each of these special boys and girls are heroes in our eyes. They show strength, perseverance, determination and a positive outlook while facing great challenges.
Their stories are powerful and heartwarming and reflect the impact CDTC and you, our community, has on their daily lives.
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Our Heroes
Octavio
Eleven-year-old Octavio just won his debate competition. It was his team’s first time competing. They argued on topics from bullying to immigration. Their success is sweeter when you realize the members of his team are hearing impaired. Like all parents, Miriam and...
Sarah is Looking Toward the Future
Twenty-one-year-old Sarah is about to successfully complete the CDTC TAFT Program and age out of our care. She is stepping into adulthood as a confident, prepared young woman. Sarah and her family moved to Florida when she was in her teens. She began seeing Dr....
Our Hero Vivienne
South Florida was supposed to be a bright new start for Vivienne’s family. They moved here in sunny July to be closer to the her grandparents. Dad was starting a new job. Mom Sarah was enjoying spending time with her two-year-old. Everything seemed normal, Vivienne...
Raine Makes Big Steps in Early Steps
First-time parents Matthew and Cathy didn‘t know what to expect during Raine’s 18-month check-up. Raine never answered to his name. He wasn’t communicating at all. He never discovered a favorite toy to play with. And, he didn’t like touching or smelling food, so he...
A Difference for Tavaris
Seven-year-old Tavaris was only three when he and his mom arrived at CDTC in need of help. The Extraordinary Children, Healthy Outcomes (ECHO) program stepped in to help. The little boy with autism would require the speech, occupational, and behavior therapy to help...
Don-Seymour is an ECHO Hero
Like so many of our patients, eighteen-year-old Don-Seymour entered CDTC through our Early Steps Program. Born premature, he has developmental delays, ADHD and asthma. Today, he is a part of our ECHO program and recently began receiving Dental Care in our clinic. To...
Chante’lae is a TAFT Hero
Chante’lae has been coming to CDTC since she was a baby, but it wasn’t until she was eight-years-old that she was diagnosed with Type I Diabetes. Our very own Dr. Lafrance referred her to Broward Health’s Emergency Department after a visit. She was worried because...
Renzo is Extraordinary!
Thirteen-year-old Renzo has journeyed through the Center’s programs since he was born. He began in Early Steps to address delays in reaching his milestones. Autistic, but highly functioning, the eighth grader now receives support from our ECHO Program. Renzo can...
Daniel is a TAFT Hero!
CDTC has always been a part of seventeen-year-old Daniel’s life. He was admitted to the NICU after he was born. Complications lead to a diagnosis of chronic kidney issues which he battles to this day and which lead his family to ours. He had two surgeries before being...
Nothing Holds Maryam Back
Maryam was born with a bump on her tummy. The birth defect created a pouch that held her abdominal organs outside of her body. The moment the CDTC Care Team met the three-year-old in 2015, they knew her case would be complicated. She could not eat or breathe...
Melissa is an Early Steps Hero!
Melissa’s pediatrician recommended that she participate in the Early Steps Program when she was 18 months old. He was concerned about her communication skills and possible autism. Her parents shared at intake that she was not using any words to communicate and she...
CDTC’s Miracle
Miracle came to CDTC when she was 24 weeks-old. She left the NICU with a g-tube to ensure she would get the fluid and calories she needed to grow. She also had deformities in her feet. She received early intervention services through the Early Steps program and is...