From the moment she entered the world, Grace Palommella radiated light. A spirited two-year-old with twinkling eyes and a tenacious heart, Grace is already showing the world that determination knows no age. But her journey hasn’t been without its challenges. Grace was born with Down syndrome—a genetic condition that occurs when a person is born with an extra copy of chromosome 21. It can affect development in many ways, particularly when it comes to physical growth, cognitive abilities, and motor skills.
For Grace and her family, early support became essential. That’s where KenCrest’s Early Intervention program came in.
Starting Early: The Key to Growth
At just one month old, Grace began receiving services through KenCrest’s Early Intervention program, which supports children with developmental delays or disabilities. Early Intervention provides in-home and community-based services tailored to each child’s needs during their most formative years, from birth to age three.
“At first, it was just occupational therapy,” recalls Liz, Grace’s mother. “Then we started with Holly shortly after that and added some more therapy sessions in.” That early start made all the difference. The KenCrest team built a personalized plan around Grace’s strengths and struggles, working with the family every step of the way.
Grace’s days soon filled with a rhythm of progress—occupational therapy to help with fine motor skills, physical therapy to improve mobility, speech therapy to assist with eating and communication, special instruction to support learning, and hearing services to monitor any auditory concerns.
“Her biggest challenges have been learning to walk and chew,” says Liz. “Speech therapy is helping her learn the mechanics of eating, and physical therapy teaches her to stand and walk.”
Milestones and Miracles
One of Grace’s biggest breakthroughs came in the form of a small, wheeled device—a walker. “It’s helping her a lot, she’s actually starting to walk with it, and happily too,” Liz says. “She’s even starting to self feed with her yogurt and her oatmeal with a spoon, that’s really blown me away!”
Grace’s journey, like many children with Down syndrome, hasn’t been linear. Progress sometimes comes in bursts, followed by plateaus. Liz describes it as a roller coaster of highs and lows. But through every twist and turn, the KenCrest team has been there—offering guidance, encouragement, and expertise.
“They celebrate her wins with us,” Liz says. “When something exciting happens, I text her therapists like I would close friends.”
A Village of Support
At the heart of KenCrest’s Early Intervention program is more than therapy, it’s community. Grace’s therapists have become part of the Palommella family, fostering a sense of connection and care that stretches beyond traditional services. At home and at daycare, Grace continues practicing her skills in environments that celebrate her abilities.
Even at home, her learning never stops. Her older brother plays an important role in her growth, offering both sibling rivalry and unconditional support. “They play race cars all the time,” Liz laughs. “They get annoyed at each other, but they play amazingly together and love each other so much.”
The Power of Starting Early
For Liz, Early Intervention has not just helped Grace, but it’s transformed their family’s outlook. “I would recommend doing it as soon as you have a concern,” she urges other parents. “The relationships we’ve built through KenCrest is not like a client relationship, but like family friends, they know your kids and really care about their progress.”
And that family has made all the difference. Grace is not only meeting her milestones—she’s defying expectations.
“She’s our daughter,” Liz says, her voice full of love. “And she’s going to be amazing.”
Grace’s story is a shining example of what’s possible when children with developmental differences receive support from the start. Through KenCrest’s Early Intervention program, families like the Palommellas are not just receiving services—they’re finding hope, guidance, and a partner on their journey.
