The Best Griffin He Can Be: A Story of Growth, Care, and Possibility

Griffin’s story began in a season of joy.

As Stacey and Jonathan prepared to welcome their first child, they imagined the life ahead—the small moments, the milestones, the simple gift of getting to know their son. Then, during pregnancy, those dreams were interrupted by unexpected news: Griffin had Down Syndrome. What followed was a mixture of deep love and deep uncertainty, hope braided tightly with fear.

When Griffin was born in December 2019, at 38 weeks, he was immediately taken to the NICU, struggling to breathe because of a severe congenital heart defect. Stacey and Jonathan watched their newborn son surrounded by wires, monitors, and uncertainty, unsure what the days ahead would hold.

The First Days and a Community Begins

It was in those first fragile days that Amy Milroy, Director of the B.E. Smith Family Center, walked into the AdventHealth NICU to meet them.

Her compassion became a lifeline.

What began as a visit soon became something much more—a connection that helped turn isolation into community, anxiety into strength, and fear into advocacy. From that moment on, Stacey and Jonathan knew that Britain Development would be part of Griffin’s journey.

At just seven weeks old, Griffin met the Britain Development team for his first early intervention evaluation. Therapy quickly became part of his life—physical, occupational, feeding, music, and aqua therapies—each one carefully adapted to keep him safe. When the pandemic added new layers of risk and separation, Britain Development found ways forward: virtual therapy options, private access to therapy spaces, and the steady reassurance that Griffin would continue to be supported.

When Everything Changed

At seven months old, everything changed again.

Griffin was diagnosed with infantile spasms, a rare and life-threatening form of epilepsy. The seizures—and the medications required to control them—caused significant regression. Skills he had worked hard to gain slipped away. His ability to roll over, to swallow safely, to recognize his family—and even his joyful laugh—were suddenly gone.

Over the next two years, medical appointments and hospital stays became part of daily life. Emergency rooms. Inpatient units. And just before his second birthday, Griffin’s oxygen levels dropped dangerously low, leading to weeks in a medically induced coma as he recovered from severe pneumonia.

Throughout it all, the Britain Development team remained a steady presence—helping the family adapt to a new normal and gently encouraging them to celebrate progress, no matter how small, during seasons that felt impossibly heavy.

Griffin is Stacey and Jonathan’s only child—their wildest joy and their greatest worry. They describe those early years as being “over the moon…without directions.”

Then, Something Shifted

Watch Griffin’s family share how Britain Development became part of their journey.

With the help of a dedicated team of specialists, a medical ketogenic diet, and the right combination of epilepsy medications, Griffin’s seizure activity decreased to levels no one had seen before. And then—his laugh came back.

The Britain Development team didn’t hesitate.
“LET’S GO!” they said.

Griffin was introduced to new opportunities: therapy intensives, advanced techniques, and specialized equipment including TheraSuit. Slowly and steadily, he began to make meaningful strides.

Milestones once hoped for became moments of celebration.

He learned to crawl.
He began taking assisted steps on the treadmill.
He supported himself on a swing.
He took bites, chewed, and swallowed safely.
He soaked in music class and thrived in the joyful, inclusive Britain preschool environment alongside his peers.

Today, Griffin continues to shine.

He climbs into his wheelchair independently. He is learning to use a communication device. He races through therapy in his gait trainer. And everywhere he goes, he shares the infectious laughter that once felt heartbreakingly out of reach.

A Place to Become the Best Griffin He Can Be

“Seeing our beautiful boy slowly come clearly and excitingly into focus is one of the most glorious views we have ever seen,” his parents shared. “And one we hope will never end.”

For Stacey and Jonathan, Britain Development has been more than therapy. It has been community. A place of encouragement, expertise, and unwavering belief in Griffin’s potential. A team that has walked beside their family from the very beginning, ensuring Griffin never misses a step on his own unique path.

Your support helps make places like Britain Development possible—where children and families have access to innovative therapies, expert care, and a community that believes in what’s possible.