Abigail “Abby” Szostek is the daughter of Vicki and Dan Szostek from Norristown, PA and she happens to have Down syndrome.

On December 10th, 2018, the world welcomed the “Amazing Abby” weighing in at just 3 pounds. After a quick visit with Mom & Dad in the recovery room Abby was taken downstairs to the NICU at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP). This became their home for the next 78 days. Much of that time was spent waiting for Abby to gain enough weight for duodenal atresia surgery (which would re-connect her intestines to her stomach) and for her to work through some breathing issues.

Once Abby was discharged from the NICU on February 25, 2019 life as a family at home finally began. The weeks that followed were filled with medical appointments and meetings to arrange Abby’s Early Intervention therapy sessions. About four months after she was born, Abby began both physical and speech therapy through The Arc Alliance.

With the help of Lori Nichol, Abby’s speech therapist, she became well versed in sign language. Abby and Lori even helped Abby’s PreK teacher and classmates learn how to sign! Her parents are extremely grateful to have had the chance to work with Lori. Not only did they learn sign language but Lori offered other communication strategies including getting Abby trained on an Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) device.

Given Abby’s low muscle tone, a common condition associated with Down syndrome, learning to walk was a challenge. But Abby’s physical therapist, Ellen Casey was by her side every week getting Abby moving. She gave Abby’s parents numerous ideas for exercises for Abby’s development every session and offered the family toys and other resources to help.

Then in September of 2019, Abby and her parents relocated to Ireland for a brief period for Mom’s work. Worried that the progress Abby was making would suffer because of the absence of  her therapy sessions, her parents worked with her Arc Alliance therapists to conduct virtual sessions over FaceTime. Abby’s Dad would also send videos to her therapists so they could see the progress Abby was making even though she was an ocean away.

When COVID shut the world down in March of 2020, Abby and her therapists were already well familiar with virtual therapy sessions doing them while abroad. Her therapy team were experts and even helped other therapists navigate how to perform Zoom sessions.

One of her family’s favorite memories is how Ellen Casey would video chat with them and coach them through treadmill training for Abby.  Abby’s mom and dad used their creative skills to set up a golf club for Abby to hold onto that was duct taped to 2 bar stools, so she could practice walking on the treadmill, and the rest is history!

Abby brings excitement and joy everyday to her family, teachers, classmates, therapists and friends. But honestly there are also fears and uncertainties that her parents face everyday. Usually those worries fade away with just a few giggles and smiles from “Amazing Abby.”

Abby’s parents firmly believe that their family and friends are very blessed to have Abby in their lives. Abby has taught them so much about love, patience and determination. They are  extremely grateful to The Arc Alliance for their help in providing Abby the much needed support in her early days, especially while they were abroad in Ireland, and certainly during the difficult days of the COVID shutdowns.

In the beginning, there was fear that Abby would have difficulty walking and not be able to communicate, today she is running with her classmates at recess, teaching her little sister, Julie, games and songs and effectively using her AAC device to request cookies and Elmo. All thanks to her amazing therapists.