Olivia’s Place Professionals Share Their Time and Talents

Each of our staff members joins our team because they believe in our mission of improving the quality and accessibility of pediatric therapy in China.  Our therapists have a heart for kids, and many choose to work with children on a pro bono basis during their time off.  Read on to learn about some of our clinicians and the children and organizations with which they are partnering to bring world class therapy to children in China.

Marc Innerhofer treats a child at Little Flower Projects in Beijing.

Physical Therapist Marc Innerhofer is providing pro bono therapy services to children at Little Flower Projects  foster center for medically fragile children in Beijing. For two hours each week, he works with 4-5 children who have cerebral palsy or developmental delays.

Zara Kan, Speech-language Pathologist, assessed children with speech-language concerns on a recent Saturday at Bethel, a Beijing organization that supports blind and visually-impaired orphans in China. In addition, Zara visited Angel Mom, a Beijing organization dedicated to orphans who require medical treatment, and consulted with several of their staff.

In Shanghai, Occupational Therapist Eva Steins works weekly with Ze, a 10-year-old boy with severe cerebral palsy.  Although Eva does not speak Chinese fluently, she has a great resource in our volunteer interpreter Emily Yan.  According to Ze’s mom, he has been gaining good hand function through these sessions.

Physical therapist Veronica Bosch provides monthly consultation to Xin and his parents on how to maintain his level of activities.  Xin is less than two years old and is diagnosed with spinal muscular atrophy.

Fei is one and half years old with developmental delay.  After two months of intensive therapy with Physical Therapists Veronica

Marla Balzer works together with Fei and her ayi.

Bosch and Marla Balzer, she is able to crawl, pull to stand up, and even take a few steps with assistance.  Now Fei only needs monthly sessions, while she continues to build her motor skills with a home program.