Anna Faltermeier/Liberty Tribune Michael Seifkas, 12, participates in a therapy session earlier this month in his Liberty home as his mother, Sandra McGowen, tries to keep his little brother, Cody, from being a distraction. Seifkas has cerebral palsy. He now has a private room to complete his therapy sessions, thanks to help from Lowe’s, Rebuilding Together Liberty and Concorde & Longhorn Construction Co.
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A therapy room for Michael
Rebuilding Together Liberty, Lowe’s partner to fulfill local family’s dream
By Natalie Shelton
Michael Siefkas, 12, now has a haven in his home.
Michael, who has cerebral palsy, just got a new therapy room in his Liberty basement, one that will become a hub for those who complement his mother’s and his aide’s care: a vision therapist, speech therapist, behavior modification therapist, physical therapist and occupational therapist.
And it’s a room that his mother, Sandra McGowen, said will help her family more than its contributors — Rebuilding Together Liberty, Lowe’s and Concorde & Longhorn Construction — may be able to imagine.
“When I think about it, I just say, ‘Thank God,’” McGowen said. “It’s a tremendous load off to have a place for Michael’s therapy rather than having it right in the middle of the living room with our lives having to go on right around him. In the therapy room, he can be more focused and not have so many distractions.”
The room is a reality for Michael because of the efforts of Rebuilding Together Liberty, a local affiliate of a national volunteer-based organization that brings a community together to help homeowners in need.
The national Rebuilding Together recently received a $1 million grant from Lowe’s, and Rebuilding Together Liberty applied to its parent organization for part of that grant money and received $10,000, said Clay McQuerry, Rebuilding Together Liberty’s executive director.
McGowen had submitted an application to Rebuilding Together Liberty for help after she envisioned having a therapy room for Michael and was placed on a waiting list until the local organization learned it had received the Lowe’s grant. Her dream room will be able to house a mat, stander, a standing chair, games, books and toys.
“We couldn’t have done it without the funding,” McQuerry said. “Normally the projects we do cost between $1,000 and $3,000.”
McQuerry said he’s also grateful to Concorde & Longhorn; Tommy Hammond of Concorde & Longhorn serves on Rebuilding Together Liberty’s board of directors.
A few years ago, Rebuilding Together Liberty constructed a sidewalk for the family; it leads from the front door around to the back basement door.
Michael has a younger brother, Cody, 4, who already knows how to look out for his older brother and can even tell a therapist when a seemingly innocent scenario might be dangerous for Michael. Cody’s often seen either sitting in his big brother’s lap or underneath the tray of Michael’s wheelchair, sitting cozy on his footrest.
McGowen said she’s sometimes approached by people who say it must be hard to take care of a special needs child.
“It’s not hard,” she said. “Unless he’s hurting, Michael’s always smiling, giggling. It’s hard to be in a bad mood around him.”
McGowen said she’s thankful to Michael for “saving” her.
“I used to be pretty wild; I wasn’t going down a good path at all,” she said. “If I’d had what people would call a ‘normal child,’ I would have gone down that same road. … This is the way it’s supposed to be.
“We have sad moments in our house, scared moments. But as soon as he smiles, that’s gone. Not a day goes by that I don’t laugh, smile or be happy because of him.”
Staff writer Natalie Shelton can be reached at 781-4941 or nshelton@npgco.com.
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Michael, who has cerebral palsy, just got a new therapy room in his Liberty basement, one that will become a hub for those who complement his mother’s and his aide’s care: a vision therapist, speech therapist, behavior modification therapist, physical therapist and occupational therapist.
And it’s a room that his mother, Sandra McGowen, said will help her family more than its contributors — Rebuilding Together Liberty, Lowe’s and Concorde & Longhorn Construction — may be able to imagine.
“When I think about it, I just say, ‘Thank God,’” McGowen said. “It’s a tremendous load off to have a place for Michael’s therapy rather than having it right in the middle of the living room with our lives having to go on right around him. In the therapy room, he can be more focused and not have so many distractions.”
The room is a reality for Michael because of the efforts of Rebuilding Together Liberty, a local affiliate of a national volunteer-based organization that brings a community together to help homeowners in need.
The national Rebuilding Together recently received a $1 million grant from Lowe’s, and Rebuilding Together Liberty applied to its parent organization for part of that grant money and received $10,000, said Clay McQuerry, Rebuilding Together Liberty’s executive director.
McGowen had submitted an application to Rebuilding Together Liberty for help after she envisioned having a therapy room for Michael and was placed on a waiting list until the local organization learned it had received the Lowe’s grant. Her dream room will be able to house a mat, stander, a standing chair, games, books and toys.
“We couldn’t have done it without the funding,” McQuerry said. “Normally the projects we do cost between $1,000 and $3,000.”
McQuerry said he’s also grateful to Concorde & Longhorn; Tommy Hammond of Concorde & Longhorn serves on Rebuilding Together Liberty’s board of directors.
A few years ago, Rebuilding Together Liberty constructed a sidewalk for the family; it leads from the front door around to the back basement door.
Michael has a younger brother, Cody, 4, who already knows how to look out for his older brother and can even tell a therapist when a seemingly innocent scenario might be dangerous for Michael. Cody’s often seen either sitting in his big brother’s lap or underneath the tray of Michael’s wheelchair, sitting cozy on his footrest.
McGowen said she’s sometimes approached by people who say it must be hard to take care of a special needs child.
“It’s not hard,” she said. “Unless he’s hurting, Michael’s always smiling, giggling. It’s hard to be in a bad mood around him.”
McGowen said she’s thankful to Michael for “saving” her.
“I used to be pretty wild; I wasn’t going down a good path at all,” she said. “If I’d had what people would call a ‘normal child,’ I would have gone down that same road. … This is the way it’s supposed to be.
“We have sad moments in our house, scared moments. But as soon as he smiles, that’s gone. Not a day goes by that I don’t laugh, smile or be happy because of him.”
Staff writer Natalie Shelton can be reached at 781-4941 or nshelton@npgco.com.