Meet Ava

Born premature, Ava weighed just 3 lbs., 12.5 oz. After a short stay in the NICU, Ava was brought home and enrolled in therapy to ensure she hit her development milestones due to her preemie status. After 18 months, doctors were happy with her progress and felt Ava would reach her next milestones without additional support.

Upon turning two, though, everything changed. Ashley, Ava’s mom, began to notice Ava regressing developmentally. Ava went from saying colors and trying to potty train to not talking, not sleeping, refusing clothes, even acting violently to her mom and other kids. While friends and family assured Ashley that it was just the “terrible twos,” she knew there was something more going on.

After Ava turned three, her mom enrolled her in a preschool that could provide the support she needed, like speech and occupational therapy. Although Ava was building a routine, she was still struggling with sleep and aggression. Ashley scheduled Ava for an evaluation in their hometown and when they did not receive an autism spectrum disorder diagnosis like she expected, Ashley left confused and frustrated.

After several years of trying to get answers and help for her daughter, Ashely scheduled another evaluation. This time with Nationwide Children's Hospital. “We had the amazing Courtney Rice,” Ashley shared. “I felt like for the first time someone had really seen Ava and heard my concerns.” After Dr. Rice’s comprehensive evaluation process, involving feedback from Ava’s teachers, play based assessment, social communication and interaction skills, and developmental testing, it was determined that Ava did indeed have autism spectrum disorder.

“People told me I was lucky,” says Ashley, “not many girls get [an autism spectrum disorder diagnosis] … they slip through the cracks because they have different symptoms.” Dr. Rice’s diagnosis gave Ashley a sense of relief as she was able to finally confirm what she had always suspected.

Dr. Rice was able to find resources and therapies for Ava closer to her hometown, and Ashley enrolled her in as many as she could. Because of the diagnosis Ava received at Nationwide Children's, she was able to get the support and tools needed to help her thrive. Ava’s course was set and, despite setbacks like having to move to different classrooms, schools shutting down in 2020, and being unable to follow her usual routine, she has flourished.

A big test for Ava came in 4th grade when she became a big sister. In spite of initial concerns from her mom about jealousy and having to share attention, Ava has proven to be an amazing sister. Ashley is thrilled with her progress, “she has been nothing but amazing and so helpful.”

Ava is now in 5th grade and has been able to reach some amazing milestones. Ava is able to read at a 2nd grade level, do multiplication and division, and she is in science and social studies classes with peers her own age. She loves to draw, sing, and care for animals. Ava even participated in the Special Olympics this year. “In her younger days I would have never thought in a million years we'd be where we are today,” says Ashley. “I'm so happy we are!