Gillette physical therapist, Jane McMillan, has a secret tool to help motivate patients to do the hard work of rehabilitation.

“I find out what each child likes and their hobbies and try to incorporate that activity into their therapy,” McMillan says.

She tapped into Michael Holley’s love of basketball to make trying a new walker fun during a therapy session at the Gillette Maple Grove Clinic. As a result Michael and his mother, Louise, were relaxed and having a good time shooting hoops as McMillan observed how various new walkers suited Michael.

A recent growth spurt prompted Michael's family to investigate new walker options to make him more comfortable. “We do exercises at home and Michael is getting stronger and more determined,” Louise says.

Michael Holley was a micro-preemie and was born at just 26 weeks and two days. “Because he was born about three months too early, the doctors told us to be prepared for the possibility that Michael could have cerebral palsy,” his mother, Louise, recalls. “As he grew, my husband, Brian, and I noticed Michael was missing milestones. We were familiar with Gillette and knew it was the place to go to receive expert diagnosis and care for cerebral palsy.” 

Gillette is home to the Cerebral Palsy Institute which is the world's foremost innovator in clinical care, forward-thinking research, and patient advocacy. Gillette has more than 140 specilists to provide comprehensive CP care and includes, pediatric orthopedics, neurology, neurosurgery and therapists.

The Holley family lives in Brooklyn Park. MN appreciates the convenience and comprehensive services offered at the Maple Grove Clinic. It was expanded in 2020 to help serve Gillette families in the northern and western Twin Cities suburbs. There is now more space for new programs and services such as advanced imaging and X-ray, including state-of-the-art low-dose EOS X-ray. Families can have easier access to physical, occupational and speech therapy services and well as increased orthotics and prosthetic services.

Today, Michael is working with various Gillette experts to gain strength, mobility and independence. His mother beams when she says, “The older Michael gets the more confident he is. I know he feels this way because his Gillette doctors and therapists are always positive and treat our family with respect.”

During his session with physical therapist Jane McMillan Michael thought his basketball skills would improve with a new, bigger walker. “It let’s me move around the court better,” Michael says with a laugh. “I look forward to playing with my friends.”

The Holley family sees a bright future for Michael. “We have the same hopes any parent would have for their child,” Brian Holley says. “Thanks to our partnership with Gillette, we know Michael will grow up, live, work and maybe have a family. We are a family that is anchored in hope!”