Portraits of Impact
Joseph Leos
Callier Center Research and Programs Changes Family’s Life
Kristina and Valmichael Leos have three children: Ellie, Joseph and Victoria. When Joseph was born, Kristina, a NICU nurse, almost immediately noticed he had problems eating. She reached out to Joseph’s pediatrician but was told that Joseph’s problems would go away on their own. She monitored him for a few weeks and found no significant changes until he went limp from choking. When it happened again, she began reaching out to all her resources in the medical community. That’s when the Callier Center for Communications Disorders was suggested to the Leos family.
“A colleague of mine who specializes in infant feeding mentioned the Callier Center to me,” Kristina said. “We were incredibly lucky to get Joseph in almost immediately. We live 35 minutes south of Dallas, but it was well worth the hour drive. My suspicions were confirmed, and I finally felt like we had someone on our side.”
Through Callier’s infant feeding program, they were given feeding tips and access to the newest research. Despite all efforts, he still struggled.
“It was only after months of feeding therapy and Joseph’s continued weight loss that doctors finally took his case seriously,” said Valmichael. “However, at this time, the world was going through a global pandemic and hospitals and doctors closed their doors unless it was an emergency. Callier had become my family’s hope for Joseph.”
Once those doors had opened again, Joseph’s doctors were able to see a hole in his airway, causing food to go into his lungs instead of his stomach. By the age of 2, Joseph had gone through a series of five medical procedures to close this hole.
However, Joseph now struggled with speech and language abilities. He was silent, not speaking or babbling. At 2, he had the speech abilities of an 8-month-old. The Leos family went back to the Callier Center to enroll Joseph in the Preverbal Communication Program.
“The program was a perfect fit,” Kristina said. “We cannot say enough wonderful things about this program and how it changed the trajectory of Joseph’s ability to communicate and connect. Every session, we were met at the door with the smiling faces of his clinicians. The team was always optimistic, and they focused on Joseph’s strengths instead of his weaknesses.”
At the beginning of the program, Joseph could not talk. He gradually learned to non-verbally communicate about his excitement to go to the Callier Center. At the time of his graduation from the program in 2022, he could talk.
“He was saying words we thought we might never hear him say,” Kristina said. “Joseph not only talked, but he learned to sing! Every day, he sang his two favorite songs that he learned in the program. ‘Row, Row, Row Your Boat’ and ‘Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star.’ Joseph’s improvement was rapid, and my husband and I are profoundly grateful.”
Their youngest child, Victoria, was also born with feeding issues like Joseph and has spent a significant amount of time in the NICU.
“Kristina and I consider ourselves blessed to know Callier can help the newest Leos family member in her feeding journey,” Valmichael said. “Callier again has provided my family with peace of mind in leading-edge therapy and treatment solutions. To us, Callier is family!”
The Leos were worried about the costs since insurance does not always cover necessary therapies. They exhausted insurance money after just three months of speech therapy sessions. But, due to the generosity of donors, the Callier Center was able to offer their programs at a reduced rate to the Leos family.
“The growth we saw and continue to see in Joseph is life-changing for him and us,” Valmichael said. “Joseph went from not speaking to truly communicating. He has friends now. He plays with his sister, and he communicates his needs. From the beginning, Callier has exceeded our expectations and has changed Joseph’s life.”