Catching Up With Naomi

Wed 27 Jan 2021

Catching Up With Naomi

We first featured Naomi on Faces of CP, which shines a spotlight on the incredibly wide range of stories in the cerebral palsy community. Our team traveled to meet Naomi and learn even more about her story and to share her experiences with you. We recently reconnected with Kiara, Naomi's mom, and we're grateful to share what they've been up to in the last two years.

When we first featured Naomi on Faces of CP, she loved lights, music, and the Trolls movie. What are her interests and hobbies now?
Most of her interests and hobbies are the same. She will forever love the Trolls movie and lights. She also loves nature and going outside. Hearing the birds always makes her smile and laugh.

How has the pandemic affected you and Naomi?
The pandemic has affected us greatly. Naomi wasn’t able to get her services for months, and the lack of physical therapy caused her to become very stiff. Aside from not getting her needed therapy, she’s also not able to go out much.

When we last caught up with Naomi in 2019, she had just started being able to turn and look at a rattle and initiate rolling over, and gaining strength in her core. What has her progress been like over the last year and a half?
She is now able to hold her favorite rattle ball for a few seconds and now she lifts her arms over her head more frequently. She’s still working to gain more strength in her core, though.

What's one of your favorite moments with Naomi?
I would say one of my favorite moments with Naomi would be when we did the video with Faces of CP and CPARF. It was very interesting to see her interact with so many people and how she flashed that smile just at the right times!

Is there anything else you'd like to share about your experience or Naomi's over the last year and a half?
I think though times are a lot different due to COVID, Naomi teaches me to still enjoy life. Even if it's just thanking the sun for shining or appreciating the rain for falling, we should appreciate it all. Naomi, who has a lot less physical ability, can wake up and smile. So can I and so should everyone else!

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Bold graphic promoting STEPtember 2025. The word “STEPtember” is displayed prominently in large, stylized text on a dark blue background. Below it reads “2025 Challenge is Coming Soon,” framed by green dotted arrow graphics pointing inward. The logo for the Cerebral Palsy Alliance Research Foundation is displayed in the bottom right corner on a bright teal strip.

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Illustration promoting birthday fundraisers for the Cerebral Palsy Alliance Research Foundation. The left side features a green box with the message “Celebrate Your Birthday with Purpose” and the CPARF logo. The background is a cheerful pattern of cakes, balloons, and presents. On the right, a photo shows a joyful group of people, including children and adults, throwing confetti around a birthday cake. The bottom of the photo reads “Happy Birthday!” in playful blue script.

Celebrate Your Birthday with Purpose: Start a Fundraiser That Changes Lives Birthdays are for joy, reflection, and connection — and now, they can help fund groundbreaking research, fuel innovation in assistive technology, and create lasting change for people with cerebral palsy and other disabilities. Celebrate your special day by starting a customized birthday fundraiser to […]