Kiersten B, age 4

Photograph by Kristina DiDomenico (2022)

Kiersten is positive and upbeat. While she may seem shy at first, she is very outgoing and loves to tell you anything you want to know. She is always smiling and very animated.

Spina bifida, hydrocephalus and a wheelchair have not stopped Kiersten from living her best life! Kiersten loves to sing and dance. With her first recital coming up, she has been putting in the work on her dance routines. It doesn’t matter to Kiersten how many times she falls in dance class or how many times her wheelchair has been a challenge, she keeps moving forward.

Not only is Kiersten working on her dance moves, she is also learning how to stand and walk. Taking one step at a time, Kiersten is fiercely determined to walk and works extremely hard to get what she wants

Kiersten brings joy and light to anyone she comes in contact with. Her mom, Kari, says: “She is empathetic and has a way to make our day brighter just with her smile. She is not afraid to be silly and allow her personality to shine through.”

Kiersten es positiva y optimista. Aunque pueda parecer tímida al principio, es muy extrovertida y le encanta contarte todo lo que quieras saber. Siempre está sonriendo y muy animada.

La espina bífida, la hidrocefalia y la silla de ruedas no han impedido a Kiersten vivir su mejor vida. A Kiersten le encanta cantar y bailar. Ante la proximidad de su primer recital, ha estado trabajando en sus rutinas de baile. A Kiersten no le importa cuántas veces se caiga en la clase de baile o cuántas veces su silla de ruedas haya sido un reto, ella sigue avanzando.

Kiersten no sólo está trabajando en sus movimientos de baile, sino que también está aprendiendo a ponerse de pie y a caminar. Dando un paso a la vez, Kiersten está ferozmente decidida a caminar y trabaja muy duro para conseguir lo que quiere

Kiersten aporta alegría y luz a todos los que entran en contacto con ella. Su madre, Kari, dice: “Es empática y tiene una forma de alegrarnos el día sólo con su sonrisa. No tiene miedo de ser tonta y dejar que su personalidad brille”.

Family Connection of South Carolina provides services and resources to families who have a child with a disability or specialized healthcare need. Since 1990 we have served more than 100,000 families and today our services are needed more than ever. We focus on parent-to-parent support, guidance with navigating the complex healthcare system, and assistance with school meetings and special education plans.