25 Weeks of Gratitude: Easterseals Arkansas, High-Risk Monitoring Program

By Linda S. Haymes

When twins William and Violet were born prematurely, Carol and John Spenst of Little Rock were already hoping to grow their family through adoption.

The twins spent three weeks in the hospital’s neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) before Carol and John welcomed them home to join their family, which also includes older sisters Lily, now 17, and Bella, now 15. William and Violet are now 13.

“We knew it was likely they would face some challenges because of the circumstances surrounding the pregnancy and premature birth,” Carol said. Their birth mother experienced instability during the pregnancy, creating risks that could affect the twins’ development both before and after birth.

“The babies were missing nutrients and support that are so important during early development,” Carol said. “And arriving prematurely naturally made them high-risk infants.”

Over the years, William and Violet have faced a variety of developmental, physical and mental health challenges. Yet their story is also one of resilience, determination and the power of early intervention.

The children’s challenges

Violet has been diagnosed with an intellectual disability along with some mental health challenges. She also has physical health conditions, including thyroid disease and diabetes.

William has developmental delays and ongoing physical challenges, along with mental health concerns that require continued support.

For Carol and John, navigating these needs has required a network of caring professionals and resources. Among the most important has been Easterseals Arkansas.

Early intervention opened the door to possibilities

Easterseals Arkansas’ High-Risk Monitoring Program provided critical services during the twins’ earliest years.

“The earlier you are able to get intervention, the better the outcomes,” Carol said. “We were able to start interacting with Easterseals when the twins were between 6 and 9 months old, after our doctor referred us.”

That early connection would make a lasting difference.

A Blue & You Foundation grant expands support

In 2013, around the same time William and Violet joined the Spenst family, Easterseals Arkansas received a Blue & You Foundation grant that helped fund its High-Risk Infant Monitoring Program. The program provided evaluations, early intervention services and parent training for more than 150 infants released from NICUs across central and southeast Arkansas.

The funding helped support therapists, family resource coordinator positions, travel, developmental supplies and equipment, and outreach to NICUs and pediatricians.

For families like the Spensts, those resources created opportunities that might not otherwise have been available.

“Easterseals has been invaluable to the twins and to our family every step of the way,” Carol said. “They did the earliest testing on them when they were infants, and both twins received extremely helpful physical and speech therapy when they were very little.”

One memory stands out for Carol as a powerful example of that impact.

“William required leg braces to help him walk when he was a toddler,” she said. “He was fitted for them at Easterseals, and now he walks with no issues.”

Today, neither twin requires physical therapy because they have achieved many age-appropriate movement milestones. Violet continues to receive speech and occupational therapy through Easterseals.

“The twins attended the developmental preschool at Easterseals where they were able to get all of their therapy throughout the day, which helped us immensely,” Carol said.

Coordinating multiple therapies and appointments can be overwhelming for any family. Having those services brought together in one place eased that burden and allowed the family to focus on helping William and Violet thrive.

A gift that continues to make a difference

“All along the way, it has been such a gift to have Easterseals Arkansas helping our family,” Carol said. “It’s said that it takes a village to raise a child, but when your children have extra needs, I say that we need a whole metroplex of people.”

For the Spenst family, Easterseals has been an important part of that “metroplex.”

“Easterseals has been a huge gift to our entire family,” Carol said. “They go the extra mile with Violet at the Easterseals Academy to make sure she has a safe, welcoming and helpful place to be.”

This summer, Violet attended the Easterseals Academy summer day program while William enjoyed summer break from the out-of-state boarding school he attends.

Looking back on their journey, Carol remains deeply grateful for the support her family has received and eager to help others find the same encouragement and resources.

“I am always recommending Easterseals as a resource to other families that need assistance,” Carol said. “Being able to have partners in our journey to help the twins be the best version of themselves has been so helpful.”

In celebration of the 25th anniversary of the Blue & You Foundation, 25 Weeks of Gratitude spotlights 25 stories of Arkansans whose lives have been impacted by Foundation-funded work.

*The Blue & You Foundation was established in 2001 through an initial gift from Arkansas Blue Cross and Blue Shield. Since its inception, the Foundation’s financial base has grown through wise and prudent investment strategies. This has enabled the foundation to support its mission by making grants funded by the interest earned on those investments.