{"id":40844,"date":"2025-11-21T14:56:28","date_gmt":"2025-11-21T19:56:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/spence-chapin.org\/?post_type=children&p=40844"},"modified":"2026-10-14T17:51:24","modified_gmt":"2026-10-14T21:51:24","slug":"mateo-colombia","status":"publish","type":"children","link":"https:\/\/spence-chapin.org\/es\/children\/matthew-colombia\/","title":{"rendered":"MATTHEW, AGE 9, COLOMBIA"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Our team has known Matthew for a couple of years and has watched him grow and develop more every time we see him. Matthew is a sweet boy who likes to hold his caregivers\u2019 hands. He has developmental delays and hemiparesis as a result of abuse. He attends 2nd grade in a special education program and told us that math is his favorite subject but also really enjoys the theatre class he takes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Matthew\u2019s social worker shared that he is really connecting well with teachers and peers in his new school, that he enjoys physical activities and benefits from the support of a 1:1 aide in the educational setting. Matthew becomes frustrated when his body doesn\u2019t cooperate \u2013 for example, tasks like writing can be difficult for him. Matthew takes medications to manage his diagnoses and told us, \u201cthey make me sleepy.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In his short life, Matthew has endured many hardships, but despite these, he remains an active, curious and creative child. Matthew is being treated for medical conditions related to his early childhood abuse, including but not limited to cranioencephalic trauma, visual impairment, global developmental delays, epilepsy and mild cognitive delay. He receives services from physical therapy, speech therapy, orthopedics, pediatric neurology and others. Matthew wears orthotics on his left foot which help him tremendously. On our recent visit with Matthew, his social worker shared that he continues to make progress each day!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ever since we\u2019ve known Matthew, he has consistently told us he wants to be a police officer when he grows up. For his next birthday, he is hoping for \u201ca big party and cars with a racetrack set.\u201d We talked about his birthday and that cake is \u201cok\u201d but \u201cchocolate ice cream is the best!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Matthew needs a family who can support him in the continuation of his therapies and advocate for him within the special education department of your local school district. If you like to cuddle on the couch watching movies and playing on the living room floor with cars, you could be a great family for Matthew!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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