Growing in New Directions
Growing in New Directions
The birth of Sylvia Wilson’s twin sons, Matt and Jon, shaped her life in ways she could not have imagined. Born premature, both Sylvia and her husband gave the boys the extra attention premature babies need. “By the time they were six months old, I realized they were not developing like other kids their age. Our pediatrician assured me they would ‘grow out of it’, that preemies took more time to ‘catch up’. They did not have any of the physical signs I associated with cognitive problems so I waited, but problems persisted.”
By the time Matt and Jon reached three years old, it was clear the they required extra support. “I searched for a preschool, and after many turned me down, I found Dr. Ruth Raatama, who gave them the care they needed. Dr. Raatama made the commitment to open 10% of her toddlers to kids with special needs.” Sylvia began working in the preschool, starting what became a lifelong commitment to help parents of children with disabilities find resources.
Sylvia remained active in her sons’ education in grade school at Havern and Denver Public Schools (DPS) where they attended middle school and high school. She worked with other parents to create tangible supports for students. Then she took a job with DPS helping young people with disabilities find work.
As Jon and Matt grew older, both Sylvia and her husband Marvin, started to think about their sons’ living in a host home. Jon survived colon cancer in his 20s, and both brothers need help with several everyday activities. “We decided to give the process a try. We wanted them settled so our younger son Chris, would not have to deal with the transition. Marvin and I felt their first provider was an excellent match, but within a fairly short period of time, the Colorado Solutions Director thought Matt and Jon needed a different setting. While we found it difficult change, it worked out well. Matt and Jon have their own rooms and their host home provider, Marlene, is an LPN.” Colorado Solution’s nurse, Vickie Thaler, RN, provides additional medical support. The transition to host home living became more important when Marvin Wilson died unexpectedly. “I could never have cared for them on my own,” Sylvia said.
“I trust Colorado Solutions, and that’s not an easy thing for a parent to do,” Sylvia noted. “Colorado Solutions has a vision for their services, and they know what they stand for. They help my sons be as independent as they can be. The care they provide has allowed me to grow old with the comfort of knowing Matt and Jon enjoy their home and continue to grow in new directions.”
