cerebral palsy Archives - Woods Services

The 2022 Run for Woods: A Rainy Run to Remember

May 25, 2022

Consider 2022 a banner year for our annual Run for Woods 5K and 1-Mile Fun Run presented by Faulkner-Ciocca Dealerships, which took place on May 7!

More than $257,000 was raised, which is the largest amount of funds Woods has ever raised for this event – thanks to our generous families and Langhorne community. We are also grateful for this year’s record number of more than 50 sponsors. This includes our presenting sponsor Faulkner-Ciocca Dealerships.

We also had several Gold Sponsors, specifically Ally Financial, Ethos Group, Inc., Homestead Smart Health Plans, Johnson, Kendall & Johnson, Inc., Parx Casino, and TD Bank. Our Silver sponsors were Audi of America, Conner Strong & Buckelew, Experian, Hangley Aronchick Segal Pudlin & Schiller, Razor Technology, Barry & Michelle Sharer, Synergy Pharmacy Services, and Volkswagen of America. A&K Industrial, Allies, Angelo’s Carpet One, Ardex Labs, CARFAX, Alice DeVoe and John Szabo, Future Scripts, Hyundai, Legacy Treatment Services, M&T Bank, PFMAM, Sailaja & Shankar Musunuri, Ricciardi Brothers/Benjamin Moore, Subaru of America, Top to Bottom Home Improvements LLC, Wawa Foundation, and Zimmerman Auto Body Supply were our Bronze sponsors.

The group ends with our Friendship sponsors Beth and Roger Angrick, Archway Programs, Bayada Home Health Care, Bob’s Discount Furniture, Boyle Construction, Woods Community at Brian’s House, Cars.com, Chubb, Cox Automotive, Crown Holdings, Enterprise Rent-a-Car, Fenningham Demptster & Coval LLP, FRS Advisors, GM Financial, Harvest Moon, La La Lobster, Margolis Edelstein, Ridge Policy Group, Rob’s Automotive & Collision Center, Roscommon International, PRN Consultants, Scoles Systems, Tabor Children’s Services, Volkswagen Credit, and Weber Gallagher.

And while the weather was determined to rain on Woods’ parade during the event, our clients, staff and greater Langhorne community kept marching, walking, wheeling and running along. A beautiful ceremony kicked off the race, which saw Pa. State Sen. Tommy Tomlinson earn the Woods Services Humanitarian Award. Attendees also witnessed our resident Whit Park receive an award for being the highest individual fundraiser, a tribute to his mother who recently passed.

We are fortunate to be able to use the funds raised to further our mission in providing innovative, comprehensive, and integrated health, education, housing, workforce, behavioral health, and case management services. These services support our clients who have intellectual, developmental, and medical disabilities and acquired brain injury. We couldn’t do it without the help of the community around us, and for that, we say – THANK YOU!

To relive the May 7 event, enjoy this fantastic photo story from our friend Nancy Rokos at the Bucks County Courier Times. We’ve also included some photos below for your pleasure.

Until next year!

Author With Beechwood NeuroRehab Pens Second Book

July 9, 2020

Three years ago, Lauren McGowan, a Beechwood resident, wrote her first book. In Kayla’s World, She’s Never Afraid to Have Big Dreams, McGowan introduced us to Kayla, a character dedicated to her late best friend, Kayla Jo Young. Now, Lauren has published her second book.

Kayla’s World: Kayla Meets Brooke takes us back to Kayla’s childhood. We learn what it is like growing up with Cerebral Palsy, meet characters with other complex conditions, and get to read the story of an amazing girl as she goes through life’s many ups and downs.

While Kayla is inspired by Lauren’s friend, much of the story is based on Lauren’s own experiences growing up with Cerebral Palsy.

“In times like these, what keeps me going is working with amazing residents here at Woods. Lauren, one of our wonderful residents, recently gave me her latest authored book, which she also illustrated, Kayla’s World. Lauren writes books to represent children with disabilities, as there were few books about disabilities, such as Cerebral Palsy or autism when she grew up,” Woods President and CEO Tine Hansen-Turton said. “Lauren’s words of wisdom – through her inspirational character, Kayla, is more important than ever: Life is beautiful, and being different is a wonderful experience. Thanks, Lauren, for all you do. Kayla’s World is a recommended read for all ages – children and adults”

Lauren hopes that children growing up with Cerebral Palsy can read this book and see themselves in the main character. Lauren shows us some of the challenges she faced growing up as well as some of the challenges faced by Brooke, a character with autism who is based on another friend of Lauren’s. Though Brooke and Kayla seem very different at first, they are able to bond, learn about each other, and grow together.

Lauren McGowan is a resident at Woods’ Beechwood Neurorehab. She enjoys writing, Facebook, going to the mall, spending time with her family and friends, and living life to the fullest.

Lauren has focused very hard on developing her craft as a writer. After her first book, she joined the Bucks County Writing Group, a community-based group that meets once a month. The members read each other’s stories and give feedback.

Ms. McGowan is very excited about the progress she has made as a writer. She is very passionate about her writing and feels that she has really developed her skills. Lauren’s book, Kayla’s World: Kayla Meets Brooke, is published by Shutterfly. To purchase a copy, please email the author’s manager at thmcgowan54@yahoo.com.

Cerebral Palsy – From My Point Of View

April 28, 2016

A Guest Blog by Lauren McGowan

Some people might underestimate the true beauty that Cerebral Palsy has to offer. Cerebral Palsy may be the result of a birth injury happening before, during or after the birthing process; a matter of oxygen not arriving at the brain quickly enough until it was too late, causing damage that can never be repaired.

Victims will have to compensate and learn basic things that most people master without trying. The extensive learning process will follow them throughout their whole lives resulting in some ongoing frustrations. A person will have to develop a great deal of patience and tolerance to live a normal life style Cerebral Palsy is a condition in which messages simply are not getting to the brain quickly enough.

Cerebral Palsy is a condition, not a disease. A condition that doesn’t worsen over time, only improves with hard work and determination. Determination goes a long way with this condition. For individuals with this condition, physical therapy helps tremendously.

Physical therapy involves strengthening muscles and providing room for growth and development. Growth and development is powerful. It will take the individual a long way. Some people will argue that physical therapy is not a long term solution for people who suffer from Cerebral Palsy. Well, if you had a condition that never went away, you would want something that reduces the tension in the muscles.

People with Cerebral Palsy will sometimes feel discouraged because the world around them doesn’t fully understand at times, but that feeling can truly inspire them. In the long run, inspiration is all someone really needs. Inspiration will lead a person with this condition to many different places. Places that they never even dreamed of going if the oxygen flowed though the brain on the first day of life. Yes, people that come into the world through unlucky circumstances are in fact very lucky in a hidden way.

About the Author

Lauren McGowan is a resident at Beechwood Neurorehab. She enjoys writing, Facebook, going to the mall, spending time with her family and friends and living life to the fullest. Lauren recently self-published the book In Kayla’s World, She’s Never Afraid To Afraid To Have Big Dreams, a tribute to her late best friend Kayla Jo Young.