Meet Samuel: 2021 Family Advocacy Week Champion

Samuel is participating in Speak Now for Kids Family Advocacy Week from June 13-18, 2021. Through this special event, Samuel and his family will share information about his health journey, Connecticut Children’s Hospital’s role in providing Samuel with necessary health care services, and why the public and our elected officials must invest in the future of patients like Samuel.

Samuel first struggled with following directions and listening to his mother, and the issues worsened at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“For a while, I thought they were stages that he would eventually outgrow,” says Delene, Samuel’s mother.

Stay-at-home orders and school closings were tough on Samuel and Delene. According to Delene, the issues went beyond complaining and turned into regular tantrums and other behavior-related issues.

However, Connecticut Children’s Hospital provided some relief. Following a specially designed survey, providers determined Samuel’s behavior issues. With play therapy and other intensive treatments, Samuel is now on the path to improvement.

Today, Samuel is doing better. His favorite activity is going down the slides at the playground and learning about new things, like numbers and different types of machines.