Reed's Story
Four-year-old Reed Strieker’s assisted steps may seem small, but in his mother Megan’s eyes, they are giant steps from where he has come.
Reed was born with Pfeiffer syndrome, a rare genetic disorder that causes the skull bones to fuse together too early during pregnancy (craniosynostosis), restricting brain growth and causing other issues.
Since birth Reed has had multiple surgeries, limiting his physical and cognitive abilities that have been treated with traditional physical therapy since he was six months old.
In 2021, a specialized pediatric therapy called Dynamic Movement Intervention (DMI), emerged to treat children with motor delay by improving automatic posture responses and promoting progress towards developmental milestones.
Since DMI therapy has limited availability in the United States, Reed began at a clinic in Indiana when he was two years old. Megan could see immediate improvement in Reed.
"We could tell right away that it was different than traditional therapy. We noticed improved strength in his abdominal muscles and legs. He really responded to it, and he was happy doing it.”
Despite this, it was challenging for the family who lives in Germantown, Illinois to travel seven hours round trip for intensive therapy sessions that lasted one to three weeks.
Megan shared, “A couple times a year, we would have someone watch our young daughter, and then we would have the expense of travel, hotel stay and meals.” Since they could not go weekly for therapy, Reed would regress in between sessions. The clinic also did not accept insurance, so Reed’s care was out of pocket.
Reed started weekly sessions at St. Anthony’s in January 2026 and began intensives in March 2026. The drive is much easier, only a little over two hours round trip. Additionally, St. Anthony’s accepts their insurance to help defer the cost of Reed’s therapy.
Megan shared, “It has been great. The therapists are very knowledgeable and you can tell they really, truly love the kids. They show us what they are doing and how to work on it at home.”
In addition to three therapists certified in DMI therapy, the center offers specialized equipment, including a "Spider Cage" Universal Exercise Unit which was funded by donations to the HSHS Foundation, and a vibration plate.
Megan shared, “We can now see the progress he is making. We will see him walking, hopefully sooner than later, but it will happen.”
Reed was born with Pfeiffer syndrome, a rare genetic disorder that causes the skull bones to fuse together too early during pregnancy (craniosynostosis), restricting brain growth and causing other issues.
Since birth Reed has had multiple surgeries, limiting his physical and cognitive abilities that have been treated with traditional physical therapy since he was six months old.
In 2021, a specialized pediatric therapy called Dynamic Movement Intervention (DMI), emerged to treat children with motor delay by improving automatic posture responses and promoting progress towards developmental milestones.
Since DMI therapy has limited availability in the United States, Reed began at a clinic in Indiana when he was two years old. Megan could see immediate improvement in Reed.
"We could tell right away that it was different than traditional therapy. We noticed improved strength in his abdominal muscles and legs. He really responded to it, and he was happy doing it.”
Despite this, it was challenging for the family who lives in Germantown, Illinois to travel seven hours round trip for intensive therapy sessions that lasted one to three weeks.
Megan shared, “A couple times a year, we would have someone watch our young daughter, and then we would have the expense of travel, hotel stay and meals.” Since they could not go weekly for therapy, Reed would regress in between sessions. The clinic also did not accept insurance, so Reed’s care was out of pocket.
Local Access
Megan learned that pediatric therapists at HSHS St. Anthony’s Memorial Hospital in Effingham had become Introductory Level A certified in DMI therapy and offered it in the new Center for Pediatric Therapy.Reed started weekly sessions at St. Anthony’s in January 2026 and began intensives in March 2026. The drive is much easier, only a little over two hours round trip. Additionally, St. Anthony’s accepts their insurance to help defer the cost of Reed’s therapy.
Megan shared, “It has been great. The therapists are very knowledgeable and you can tell they really, truly love the kids. They show us what they are doing and how to work on it at home.”
In addition to three therapists certified in DMI therapy, the center offers specialized equipment, including a "Spider Cage" Universal Exercise Unit which was funded by donations to the HSHS Foundation, and a vibration plate.
Megan shared, “We can now see the progress he is making. We will see him walking, hopefully sooner than later, but it will happen.”