Joy Despite Developmental Challenges
Category: Client Story
September 8, 2026
Finding Joy in Every Day
Some kids inspire us with their talents, character or stamina. Some kids inspire us by simply reminding us to slow down and find joy in each moment. Brad’s son Lachlan does exactly that. Lachlan—affectionately named Chow-Chow by his older brother—is a fourth grader who loves to climb over furniture, vocalize his excitement, and play with his siblings. But these moments come with everyday challenges too. With the right support and early intervention, Lachlan and his family are taking on each day and each moment as they come.
Raising a Child with Medical or Special Needs
Lachlan’s parents, Brad and Laura, had an uneventful pregnancy until a test showed some possible abnormalities. Doctors reassured them that it wasn’t alarming and everything looked fine. At 36 weeks, however, Laura wasn’t feeling kicks and their doctor suggested they go ahead and deliver the baby early. Within 36 hours, Lachlan was diagnosed with Agenesis of the Corpus Callosum (ACC), followed by a rare diagnosis: inverted 8P partial deletion/duplication syndrome.
“It was a huge shock. There’s no playbook for parenting, and there is definitely no playbook for rare conditions,” reflects Brad.
Inverted duplication/deletion 8p affects approximately 1 in 22,000 to 1 in 30,000 live births, with only a few hundred documented cases worldwide. (Source: Orphanet / National Organization for Rare Disorders).
Access to Early Intervention
Brad stayed home to take care of Lachlan and attend to his many doctor appointments and needs. After moving to Austin a year later, the family connected with Any Baby Can for Early Childhood Intervention (ECI).
Through in-home physical, occupational, and speech therapies, Lachlan made slow but steady progress in his movement and vocalization. And the family gained tools, knowledge, and the emotional support needed to navigate their new life.
“Raising a child with medical needs is different than I expected. The whole thing is confusing, not knowing what you don't know. Having Any Baby Can by my side was a blessing,” says Brad.
Brad has been in the health and wellness space most of his life, so he had initially sprung into action. He was looking at gene therapy, medicines, resources and anything that could make Lachlan’s life easier.
But with time, Brad came to realize something profound, yet simple: They needed to focus on the here and now. If Lachlan was happy and doing well, they would find joy in each moment. They were no longer worried about the future, just the gratitude they had for today.
“I tell my oldest son that his brother has every reason to feel down, but he is hands-down the happiest person you will ever meet,” Brad says. “He reminds all of us to slow down, live in the moment, and be grateful.”
Benefits of Early Childhood Intervention
Instead of making the family travel to a clinic, therapists came straight to their living room and worked directly with Lachlan at home. They also showed Brad exercises to do during everyday play, included Lachlan's older brother Leif in the sessions, and helped the family sign up for community support programs.
“Having another caring adult who understood what we were going through was a huge relief,” Brad says. “She showed us what was possible.”
ECI works with children between birth and age three to set them up for a lifetime of skills and tools to succeed. During the first three years of life, the brain develops faster than at any other point, forming over 1 million new neural connections every single second (Source: Center on the Developing Child at Harvard University).
Lachlan could not crawl. His physical therapist brought the family a gait trainer—a special rolling walker with body support that helps kids practice stepping. Equipment like this can cost thousands of dollars. Any Baby Can made sure Lachlan got what he needed.
“I never would have thought of a gait trainer on my own,” Brad says. “Seeing him move on his own for the very first time was amazing. It set him on the path to walk.”
That’s just one way that programs like Any Baby Can change the trajectory of a child’s life.
How You Can Help Austin Kids Thrive
No parent should have to handle a complex medical diagnosis on their own.
Brad transitioned back into his professional career with a renewed sense of purpose. It also inspired him to make trusted health resources more accessible to families.
“When your child outgrows shoes, you buy new shoes,” Brad says. “But what do you do when your child outgrows a specialized walker or wheelchair? Any Baby Can fills that gap. When you support a child, you lift up the whole family.”
He also gives back to the organization that walked alongside his family during some tough moments. Through a community leadership program, Brad rallied his peers to raise $43,000 for Any Baby Can in just 10 days. Brad is now stepping up to serve on Any Baby Can’s board of directors, lending his voice, leadership, and firsthand perspective as a father to guide our mission forward.
If you feel inspired to make a life-long impact on a local family, join us!
- Donate: A one-time or monthly gift helps pay for in-home therapy, parent support, medical equipment, and so much more.
- Volunteer: Share your time at our events, supply drives or at-your-office opportunities.
- Share the Story: Tell others about Any Baby Can and spread the word about the impact of our work.
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