Meet the Fresolones, the 2009 Cody Center Walk Honorary Family
My
wife Jeannette and I were married 27 years ago. Like every young couple, we dreamed of a perfect life together raising a family, confident and secure
in the plans for our lives together.
Today those dreams remain the focus of our lives. We have been blessed with three beautiful children. Victoria, 24, is a teacher assistant in the Sachem School District and a competitive swim coach with the Three Village Swim Club. Our son, Matthew, 21, is a senior at Stony Brook University pursuing a degree in history. Our daughter, Olivia, is 16 and a sophomore at Ward Melville High School. She aspires to a career in animal science.
Olivia is on the Autism Spectrum, and as a result of the hard work and dedication of the many professionals at the Cody Center and elsewhere who have touched our lives and Olivia's through the years, we remain confident in what the future holds for her. But we weren't always that confident.
Our daughter was born prematurely in Jeannette's seventh month of what was a very difficult pregnancy. It became apparent early on that Olivia was experiencing developmental delays. Preschool teachers suggested that Olivia be evaluated because of her difficulty relating and interacting with her peers. Although we privately recognized these "differences" with Olivia, we hung on to the belief and hope there was nothing wrong that could not be corrected. Family and friends reinforced our optimism. Reluctantly, we agreed to have Olivia evaluated.
Olivia was diagnosed with PDD. I remember hearing the psychologist speaking, but I was unable to comprehend what was unfolding before me. My mind fast-forwarded to a world where Olivia's childhood, adolescence, teen years, and young adulthood blended together and played out endlessly.
When we left the evaluation, Jeannette and I knew the diagnosis, but no one was able to provide us with a prognosis. We were given names, telephone numbers, and a "to do" list that was overwhelming. Our choices were to give up and crawl into a fetal position, or to pick ourselves up and embark upon a journey to do all we could for Olivia. We chose the latter.
Early intervention, physical therapy, occupational therapy, and speech therapy played significant roles in Olivia's development. We enrolled her in summer programs where she was able to continue her therapy without interruption. For Olivia, the school year never ended.
Watching her grow has been a gratifying experience. Although we sometimes yield to the pressures and anxiety of raising a child with disabilities, and find it easy to become discouraged and succumb to self-pity, we find comfort in Olivia, who raises our spirits with her smiles, effervescent personality, and her endless joy to experience life each day. It is Olivia who encourages us to carry on.
I know that we will continue to confront challenges, but The Cody Center has taught us to face adversity with confidence and optimism. It has been our oasis as we embarked upon our journey hesitatingly in those early years. We are no longer paralyzed by fear—we walk each day in the sunlight of hope and are secure in the knowledge that we are not alone. The Cody Center has embraced Olivia and our family, and has been with us each step of the way. For this, we remain forever grateful.
—Ralph Fresolone