Estimated read time: 2-3 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
RIVERTON -- This week's High 5 goes to a physical therapist who is changing the lives of children and their families.
Kathy Dudley is a bi-lingual physical therapist at the Jordan Child Development Center, where she helps children from birth to 3 years old with their motor skills.
Talkative 2-and-a half -year-old Adrian was born with spinal bifida and has no feeling from his knees down. His mom, Chelsey Ulibarri, said, "(Kathy) has been persistent at helping us find shoes that fit with the braces, letting us borrow walkers so we can find one that works."
Because of Kathy, Adrian is close to walking on his own. Rylee, who is also 2 and-a-half, has a growth hormone deficiency and has been seeing Kathy since she was 6 months old.
Kathy ... goes above and beyond and never settles for the minimum visit, but really bonds and helps these kids.
–Chris Giacovelli
Her mom, Angie Jewkes, said, "She has really loose ligaments and joints so she couldn't engage her muscles and her tendons to walk or crawl or anything. Kathy has got her crawling and walking and doing everything."
For Kathy, it's about having fun with the kids. "I just like working with kids. If you do physical therapy with adults, they complain. They don't want to do their stuff. You work with kids and you just play," she said.
The center's director, Chris Giacovelli, said, "Kathy is the kind of person that goes above and beyond and never settles for the minimum visit, but really bonds and helps these kids."
Co-worker Mary James said Kathy also helps the children's parents. "They find that life goes on and it is because of people like Kathy who make them feel complete," she said.
Her co-workers say Kathy is not only a great therapist but has been a great mentor over the years, as well.
Our High 5 partner, Les Schwab, rewarded her good deeds with a gift basket and $100 toward her next set of tires. If you'd like to nominate someone for a High 5, click here.
