Mile 8

When Estefany Lopez Herrera was a nine-year-old student at William Hart Elementary School in Gretna, learning wasn’t always easy, although she had no idea why. Her mom had noticed that her daughter had trouble seeing the television at home, but wasn’t sure about the diagnosis, or how severe her vision deficit might be. Estefany’s mother, Raquel, doesn’t speak English, therefore, conversations with the school nurse were difficult. However, with Manning Family Children’s ThriveKids program in the picture, the school nurse had the infrastructure surrounding her to suggest resources and eliminate barriers to follow-up visits to audiologists and ophthalmologists. This allowed for more than a diagnosis, but also the treatment that Estefany needed. ​

​A visit to Manning Family Children’s audiology clinic indicated that indeed Estefany was not hearing well, and a referral to the ophthalmologist confirmed that she not only couldn’t see the TV, she also couldn’t see the blackboard at school. Learning is virtually impossible when you cannot see or hear adequately. ​

​Glasses and hearing aids were obtained for her, and Children’s, along with an interpreter at the hospital, provided assistance navigating insurance coverage. The team approach that occurs when parents, schools, and hospitals come together as a village that raises children, is eminently more successful. “I am so very happy about this program,” said mom, Raquel Herrera. “I could never have taken care of this on my own, and I am very thankful to the school nurse who referred me on, and to Manning Family Children’s for arranging all of this.” Estefany was quickly back in school, and ready to learn – with a good path as she moves forward.