Wrenley’s Story

“When people think of autism research they assume that researchers are trying to find ways to change these kids. Your study is not about trying to change kids, it’s about getting them the help and support they need as early as possible so they have the best shot at reaching their full potential.”

Wrenley enrolled in the ESDLab infant study in October 2021 when she was 1 month old.  Her parents, Justin and Megan, drove from Spartanburg to attend this first visit after hearing about the study through a post-card in the mail.

Their oldest child, Wyatt, was diagnosed with autism and, knowing the benefits of early intervention and support, they wanted an extra set of eyes on Wrenley shortly after birth. Justin and Megan were also eager to advance autism research and saw this as an opportunity to help families in the future. 

During the first several months of the study, the team looked closely at Wrenley’s movement and physical development, social and communication skills, and problem-solving abilities. Wrenley played with new toys, watched short videos, and engaged with her caregivers in different activities. Justin and Megan were provided with feedback on Wrenley’s milestones along the way.

Around 9 months, our research team observed some delays in Wrenley’s motor development and recommended early intervention services to provide more support. Shortly after, Wrenley began Occupational and Physical Therapy. Within just a few weeks her caregivers noted improvements in her strength and movement with the new exercises.

During one of the study visits, Dr. Bradshaw also noticed the need for an additional evaluation for Wrenley. Her parents followed this advice and saw a specialist who discovered a very rare genetic condition. Megan noted after this appointment,

“Because Dr. Bradshaw referred Wrenley to this specialist, it was found that Wrenley has an extremely rare genetic condition. Only 6 others have been found to have what she has in the world. Thanks to your team we have answers and can tackle this head on and get Wrenley all the support she needs to succeed.”

Wrenley will continue the study until she is 2-3 years old, and the team will continue to provide updates on her development.

Megan and Justin expressed appreciation for the ongoing monitoring that the study offers.

“Having the team watch her from birth has just been amazing because we were able to get her the help sooner,” Megan shared. “When you have professional eyes on them they can pick up on extra things that you may not have noticed…”

When discussing her experiences with this research, Megan stated, “When people think of autism research they assume that researchers are trying to find ways to change these kids. Your study is not about trying to change kids, it’s about getting them the help and support they need as early as possible so they have the best shot at reaching their full potential.”

Nicely said, Megan. This is exactly what our research aims to do!

We are excited to see Wrenley continue to grow and benefit from early intervention, and we’re hopeful for how this research will benefit families in the years to come.

Thank you, Megan, Justin, and Wrenley for your continued support and participation in our research!

Wrenley’s family also shared their story through WIS TV highlighting the role of early intervention for their son Wyatt. Watch their interview here!