A bright light

Six-year-old Eleanor has a way of brightening every room she enters. She loves performing for others, especially through dance, and she makes friends everywhere she goes.

Strong-willed and resilient, Eleanor approaches life with a can-do attitude. That determination has carried her through years of therapy, surgeries and specialized pediatric care at Wolfson Children’s Hospital, where she has been supported by a team that has known her since she was 6 months old.

During Shelby Di Fabio’s high-risk pregnancy, prenatal testing indicated that Eleanor would likely have Down syndrome. After receiving this news, Di Fabio focused on preparing for Eleanor's arrival and learning how best to support her. Born at 36 weeks, Eleanor spent five days in a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) before heading home. From an early age, she began showing resilience that would carry her through the years ahead.

Working toward every milestone

Eleanor's journey with Wolfson Children's Hospital began when she was 6 months old. Over the years, she participated in physical, occupational and speech therapy through Wolfson Children's Rehabilitation, working toward skills that often took extra time and practice to achieve.

Learning to roll, sit independently and eventually walk were goals requiring patience, repetition and perseverance from both Eleanor and her mother. Di Fabio recalled how Eleanor’s persistence shined through at every step. No matter the challenge, Eleanor never gave up.

Celebrating together

Throughout Eleanor’s childhood, the Wolfson Children’s providers who cared for her became an important part of her journey.

"Eleanor is one of the most determined children I've ever met," said Evie Landry, MD, a pediatric otolaryngologist with Nemours Children’s Health who practices at Wolfson Children’s Hospital. "No matter the obstacle in front of her, she finds a way to keep moving forward."

As Eleanor grew, the team who supported her found themselves celebrating not only her progress, but the joy and personality she brought to every visit. Eleanor has become a part of special moments in the lives of her caregivers, from participating in birthday celebrations to helping with two gender reveals.

"They just became family, truly," Di Fabio said.

The feeling was mutual.

"We celebrate her milestones, but she has impacted us just as much," Dr. Landry said. "Eleanor has a way of bringing joy wherever she goes."

A trusted team

Years of care and connection created a level of trust that proved invaluable during Eleanor's tonsillectomy in 2024. As Eleanor got older, procedures became more difficult because she was more aware of having to separate from her mother.

This time, however, the experience was different. Child Life specialists and other members of Eleanor’s care team helped her feel comfortable before surgery through activities such as coloring, games and choosing a scent for her anesthesia mask.

“She was more excited to leave me and go with them than I had ever seen before,” Di Fabio said.

For Di Fabio, seeing Eleanor feel comfortable before surgery was more than a reflection of her daughter’s growth. It showed how much trust Eleanor had built with the people who cared for her throughout her life. Seeing that trust firsthand gave Di Fabio peace of mind.

Shining every day

Today, Eleanor is in kindergarten with her peers. She loves school and being around people, and Di Fabio said she has a way of making an impression wherever she goes.

Over the years, her Wolfson Children’s care teams have seen her through therapies, procedures and the challenges that came with each new stage of childhood. They have also gotten to know Eleanor beyond her medical care: her kind heart, independence and ability to connect with others. For Di Fabio, those qualities are part of what makes Eleanor who she is. She hopes others see not only how far her daughter has come, but also how much she is capable of.

Dr. Landry has seen that capability throughout the years she has cared for Eleanor. She has watched her continue to make progress, approach challenges with a positive outlook and refuse to let them keep her from reaching the next step.

And Di Fabio has no doubt Eleanor will keep going.

“That girl is just going to continue to prove that she can do it,” she said.

After years of caring for Eleanor and watching her grow, Dr. Landry knows there is much more to her than the challenges she has faced.

“She’s a bright light,” Dr. Landry said.

Is your child having difficulty with any physical, occupational, speech or feeding tasks? Pediatric therapists offer treatment for developmental delays, fine or gross motor challenges, acute or chronic medical conditions and more. For more information about Wolfson Children's Rehabilitation, call 904.202.4200.