As a social worker, I cover patients in general neurology and neuromuscular. A lot of times, the kids I see were diagnosed when they were young, and we see them until they are adults

I like being able to make that early connection with patients and their families, and help guide them throughout their life. 

One of my favorite parts of being a social worker is participating in the Adopt-a-Family program that the Social Work team hosts each holiday season. We nominate families we have gotten to know through our work with them, and match them to donors who fulfil their Christmas wish lists. 

A lot of times, these families have had unimaginable things happen to them throughout the year and feel like they can’t catch a break. And for a lot of the families I work with, there is no treatment or cure for their children’s diagnoses. 

I remember one year I had a mother who’d had a stressful year. She initially did not believe me when I told her an anonymous donor was bringing presents for her and her family for Christmas. But she trusted me and showed up that morning with her car ready to be filled with gifts. As we loaded the presents into her car, she had the biggest smile and the biggest tears. She gave me the biggest hug. To this day, whenever she sees me in clinic, she gives me a hug. 

To be able to see the parents and kids when they come in their cars to pick up the gifts — with presents swarmed around them and their little faces peeking through the cracks, knowing everything they’ve gone through and things that are to come — it’s a great feeling to be able to help them like this. It’s magical.