When Ashley’s son was born three months early, HealthySteps became a lifeline—offering emotional support, practical resources, and connection that helped her family move from surviving to thriving.
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When Ashley R. welcomed her son Milo into the world, nothing went as planned. Born three months early and weighing just over a pound, Milo spent the first eight months of his life in the neonatal intensive care unit. He underwent multiple surgeries and faced ongoing challenges with his lungs, intestines and vision. Caring for him became Ashley’s full-time job and she stepped away from her career as a science teacher to be by his side. The financial stress was heavy, but the emotional strain was even greater.
At Milo’s routine well-child visits, Ashley found something unexpected: someone who asked not just about Milo’s progress, but about how she was doing. That someone was Sara, a HealthySteps Specialist embedded in the pediatric practice. By checking in regularly, connecting Ashley to resources, and simply listening, HealthySteps gave her the support she hadn’t realized she needed. “I don’t have to bear it alone”
The relationship lasted two years. Sara was able to connect Ashley to local resources that helped provide necessary food, clothes and other household goods for her family. She also reconnected Ashley with the family support network. Through that, Ashley was able to connect with a parent group specifically for parents of medically complex children, giving her immediate support from a circle that knew what she was going through.
The experience was powerful enough that Ashley chose to share her story with others. Today, she serves as a HealthySteps Family Advisor, helping guide the program at a national level. In that role, she brings the voice of lived experience to the table, ensuring the program continues to meet families where they are.
“While this story is unique to my family, there are so many families out there with stories just like mine. Connecting with HealthySteps has been an invaluable experience. I walked in with no knowledge of the program and walked out with resources, support and care I didn’t even know were available. My only hope is that as many families as possible have the opportunity to be introduced to this wonderful program.”
