“It has to do with the staff. Having access to the best doctors, therapists, nurses, administrative support, insurance liaisons and people who check you in at the door – everyone is pleasant, competent and compassionate.”
Long Road to Diagnosis, Children’s Specialized Hospital Offers Answers and Hope
James Fitzsimmons was diagnosed with Asperger syndrome in 2007 at the age of seven. Asperger syndrome is an autism spectrum disorder (ASD) that impairs a person’s behavioral, social and communications abilities.
“He had the classic symptoms - head bangings that were misinterpreted as temper tantrums and he had difficulty talking. It is all kind of a blur. He has come such a long way since then,” says James’ mom, Debbie Fitzsimmons.
Mrs. Fitzsimmons recalls the long road to a proper diagnosis and James’ first visit in 2007 to Children’s Specialized Hospital in their home town of Toms River. “Dr. Yvette M. Janvier (Medical Director at Children’s Specialized Hospital in Toms River) was so caring and thorough. She spent two hours with my son. Dr. Janvier gave us an immediate diagnosis. We didn’t have to wait for answers.” says Mrs. Fitzsimmons.
James has been a patient of Children’s Specialized ever since. “It is so convenient and easy to access care at the Toms River location, I don’t know what we would have done if we had to drive a long distance for therapy,” said Mrs. Fitzsimmons.
In 2011 James began attending therapy at Children’s Specialized Hospital’s new Toms River location on Lakehurst Road. “The facility is beautiful and offers great resources for families,” says Mrs. Fitzsimmons.
When James began his treatments he would attend two to three sessions a week for occupational, speech and social skills therapies. Today James is able to articulate his thoughts and needs better and participates in a social skills therapy session once a week.
“People are happy to be at Children’s Specialized Hospital. They make you feel welcome, walk you through the process and take the time to care…it makes all the difference in the world,” Debbie Fitzsimmons.
James has made the most progress with social skills therapy. He still has friends from the group. He has made strides in learning simple things like taking turns with others, how to respond to difficult situations and how to manage peer to peer relationships. He’s also an honors student.
Mrs. Fitzsimmons describes what makes Children’s Specialized Hospital so special: “It has to do with the staff. Having access to the best doctors, therapists, nurses, administrative support, insurance liaisons and people who check you in at the door – everyone is pleasant, competent and compassionate.”