The Luke Billings Foundation

Dominic was born a healthy, and happy baby.  At 51/2 mo. old he suffered a seizure that caused his breathing to stop.  He suffered 50% brain damage.

The doctors told us he would never walk or talk.  We were devastated.  After hours of therapy sessions and removing "he can't" out of our vocabularies, he was able to use a walker by the age of 3.  At 6 y.o. he was not really progressing as I had hoped.  At school, Dominic could walk the hallway with his canes in 14.5 min.  After his first trip to Europeds he could walk the same distance in 9.5 min.

My goal for our second trip to Europeds was for him to walk with one cane and increase his endurance.  He progressed from 5 min. on the treadmill to 25 minutes WITH a 6% incline AND 1 lb. ankle weights on each foot!!!!!!!  He then took that 9 minute hallway time to just 3 minutes at school!!!!

THEN......a week after we were home, he took 25 steps independently WITH no canes or any help!!!!  WE WERE IN SHOCK!!!!  Then we cried!!  MY SON JUST WALKED!!!!!

At school the next day Dominic was able to show all the students and teachers his proudest moment yet in his life.

I believe Europeds is an amazing place.  It works!  It really does!!  The down side to this therapy is that the amount isn't fully covered by insurance.  Of the 40 hours of therapy, the insurance will only cover 20.  The remaining is out of pocket. There is also the out of pocket expense for food and lodging.  If were not for the help of The Luke Billings Foundation, we would not have been able to make that second trip to Europeds and my son most likely would not be walking right now.  Thank you from the bottom of my heart.  That money raised for the Foundation, really, REALLY does make a difference!!!!!

Taken from Kellie J. - Dominic's devoted mother.