Three-year-old T.J. Milojevich started going to speech therapy before he could even talk.
He was born with a cleft lip and palate. A condition that can cause hearing and speech problems, but his therapist at Seattle Children's Hospital is using a simple tool to help with his development — books.
"It's a huge help," said T.J's parents, Jack Milojevich and Paige Beckwith. "Since doing this he's starting to form all his words and actually saying sentences."
Craniofacial pediatrician Dr. Emily Gallagher started the program at Seattle Children's through Reach Out and Read, a national nonprofit promoting early education development through reading.
"I really wanted to be able to expand the books to kids with craniofacial conditions," said Dr. Gallagher.
The doctors and therapists can tailor a patient's treatment by choosing books with specific sounds.
"Say we have a child who needs to practice their B's," said Dr. Gallagher, "I can choose the Bellybutton Book and I can show parents how to use the book as a way to augment their speech practice."
Dr. Gallagher has a real passion for children's books — and that passion is contagious.
"This mom who I met in clinic was telling me how she used to teach first grade," said Dr. Gallagher. "And I was thinking, 'I bet she likes children's books as much as I do.'"
That mom was Sam Alexander, a former teacher and wife of Seattle Seahawks' linebacker DJ Alexander. Their son was a patient of Dr. Gallagher's and now the two women have teamed up to bring more books to the hospital.
Sam launched a Crowdrise campaign and recruited her husband to help. For a $10 donation, you will be entered for a chance to win a VIP experience at Seahawks' training camp with DJ Alexander. The fundraiser ends on June 30, 2018.
Seattle Children's Hospital uses books to help craniofacial patients
Story sponsored by Seattle Children's Hospital.
