At 18 months old, Max was meeting and surpassing his developmental milestones, but he suddenly stopped speaking and was later diagnosed with autism and apraxia of speech. His mother, Marbella, promised to provide him with the best care and support possible.

Despite being nonverbal initially, Max worked hard to improve his speech and can now say many words and form sentences. He is also advanced academically, reading independently by age four and excelling at math.

At 6 years old, Max participates in occupational therapy utilizing hippotherapy at The Shea Center, which has greatly improved his physical strength, spatial awareness, social skills, and independence. He’s now more interactive with family and peers and enjoys activities like horseback riding and playing with his cousins. His parents have dedicated their lives to supporting and celebrating his development. They focus on creating joyful experiences for Max that have improved his patience and engagement over time.