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.
Our Heroes
Don’s a TAFT Hero
Don Simms grew up dealing with a wide range of complicated health conditions including cerebral palsy, seizures and asthma. Although Don is twenty, he is non-verbal and needs constant care and oversight by his family. Don was the family’s first child and mom had a...
Isabella & Madison
Isabella and Madison were born at only 23 weeks, 6 days. The impossibly tiny micro-preemies weighed just over one pound, Isabella weighing only 1.4lbs and Madison even smaller at 1.3lbs.Being born so early, both girl’s systems were underdeveloped. Isabella had blood...
Sophia
The day just got better in CDTC’s Dental Clinic. Seven-year-old Sophia is coming today! This jubilant little girl is a little ray of sunshine for our dentist Dr. Alonso and her team. They look forward to her chatty, happy visits. “Instead of us cheering her up (during...
Zoe
Eleven-year-old Zoe was born with Down Syndrome. Her journey has been challenging, but she’s proven that nothing will hold her back. Zoe’s milestones were tough. Communicating was a barrier; she was only pointing until the age of three. Early intervention would be key...
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...