08/27/2026
If joy was a tangible gift, then it would be the gift that Danielle, better known as Ellie, gives away daily with her contagious smiles, her hugs, her tenderness toward other children, and her gentleness toward animals. If you could sum up Ellie in one word, it would be nurturing.
Ellie has been a gift to her family. On August 24, 2017, Ellie joined her family as a foster child. They were grateful to be entrusted to care for her and fell in love fast. A year later, when adoption became an option, Ellie officially became a part of the family.
Early in 2019, Ellie's development plateaued in several areas. After an evaluation, she was diagnosed with a sensory processing disorder. They connected with a trauma therapist at Roots and Wings Therapies in Kalamazoo, and Ellie began receiving occupational therapy. After a few months, it was determined a speech evaluation would be helpful. Soon after, Ellie was diagnosed with speech delays and began receiving speech therapy in addition to her occupational therapy.
Because these critical therapies are costly, Ellie’s therapists encouraged her family to apply for a therapy scholarship through Family Hope Foundation. In the fall of 2020, the family was awarded a scholarship, helping to offset the costs of Ellie’s multiple therapy sessions. Says Ellie’s mom, “Family Hope Foundation is an incredible organization. The words 'thank you' don’t seem to adequately express how blessed we feel to have people come around us in support of our daughter.”
Thanks to her therapy, Ellie made great progress with her speech and sensory regulation. Peer interactions were smoother as she had better articulation and more confidence in her speech. Her sentences became longer and she was easier to understand. She also became less anxious and stayed engaged longer on tasks she once found to be too tedious or difficult.
Before therapy, Ellie didn’t want to color, cut, or do any fine motor activities. She can now sit and focus on these tasks and shows great pride in her accomplishments. Triggers such as loud noises aren’t as jarring. She can voice when she is scared and request her headphones when needed. Previously, Ellie wasn’t playing independently. After therapy started, Ellie almost immediately showed strides in this area. She loves to do pretend play with her animals and Paw Patrol toys!
Ellie is living her life to the fullest— playing in the mud, swimming, playing with her sensory bins, learning to ride her new bike, and exploring local parks. Her highlight is always meeting new friends and spreading her joy to the world around her.
