Imagine going through childhood unable to ask questions, whisper secrets, or even tell people your name. Until two years ago, life without words was Grace's reality. She was born 16 weeks early, weighing barely more than a pound. Like many premature infants, she has cerebral palsy - a form of brain damage that, for Grace, affects her ability to speak.

"We relied on rudimentary sign language and pictures to communicate," says Grace's mom, Linda. "Conversations were a guessing game. It was frustrating for all of us, but especially for Grace."

Grace began coming to Gillette at age 1 to address issues with her muscle tone, another symptom of cerebral palsy. At the time, she was receiving speech therapy from a community provider. Three years later, however, she still lived in a silent world. That's when a Gillette speech pathologist suggested that Grace try using an augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) device. The portable computer contains pictures that represent words and phrases. When Grace touches the screen, it "speaks" the corresponding word. She also can spell words, such as her name.

"I never thought I'd hear my daughter say, 'I love you,'" says Linda. "I heard those three words and cried with sheer joy."

"She really matured" after getting the device, adds her dad, George. "She went from little to big so fast. It was exciting."

Shortly after Grace received her device, which she calls her "talker," the family experienced a double blow: Linda was diagnosed with cancer, and George lost his job to staffing cuts. As Linda underwent difficult chemotherapy (she is cancer-free today) her bright light was Grace's new voice. "Grace was an inspiration to keep fighting, to not lose hope," says Linda.

Today, Grace continues to thrive with her talker. She participates in most classroom activities with her able-bodied peers - even show and tell. "Grace told her classmates all about her puppy," says Linda. "That would have been impossible without her talker."

Her parents say Grace's talker has given their daughter much more than a voice - it's a way to connect with her family, her peers, and the world around her. "It's been a huge self-confidence booster," says Linda. "Her voice and her personality suddenly emerged!"
 

When Tyler fell off his trike at age 2, breaking his arm, his parents found it unusual. "It wasn't a major fall, so I was surprised by the break," says his dad, Chris. Doctors told them not to worry. But one year later, Tyler broke both of his arms within a week. "At that point we knew something was very, very wrong," Chris explains.

Tyler's worried parents brought him to Gillette Children's Specialty Healthcare and Ann Van Heest, M.D., a pediatric orthopaedic surgeon who specializes in the upper extremities. "Dr. Van Heest knew immediately that something wasn't right," says Chris. Genetic testing revealed a startling diagnosis: osteogenesis imperfecta (OI), a rare bone disorder often referred to as brittle bone disease.

Tyler, now 10, has since broken more than 20 bones in his arms, feet, spine, and other areas. He sees 10 specialists at Gillette, where experimental treatments have helped reduce his fracture rate. Implanted pins and screws, along with rehabilitation therapy, help to strengthen his growing bones.

But equally important as his treatment, says Tyler's mom, Alison, is the environment Gillette creates for her son. "I'm impressed by the comfort Tyler feels," she says of Gillette. "He'll check himself in, chat with registration staff, and walk around like he owns the place."

In an interesting coincidence, help for Tyler comes not only from Gillette, but also from more than 10,000 miles away in Australia. Tyler has yearly check-ups in Sydney, where his family is originally from, and several of his Gillette specialists keep in contact with Australian physicians to ensure they're up-to-date on Tyler's care and treatments.

"We're a global family, and we've taken a similar approach to Tyler's condition," explains Chris. "As a result, he's receiving exceptional care both at Gillette and from doctors half a world away."

Chris and Alison acknowledge the feelings of helplessness and unpredictability that come with Tyler's condition. "Whether he trips on the rug or falls on the playground, we never know when the next break will be," Alison says. In fact, Tyler has broken bones after tripping over the family's cat - and even while playing under the Christmas tree!

Despite their fears, his parents make sure their son has the same opportunities that every other child has. "We've learned so much from Tyler about tolerance, resiliency, and attitude," says Chris. "He knows he's a kid first and a person with OI second - not the other way around."