Maia Gochez pursues anything that catches her fancy: horseback riding, cute sandals, traveling the country. And she’s courageous enough to overcome anything that might stand in the way—even her cerebral palsy diagnosis.

The emotional roller coaster that follows a cerebral palsy diagnosis never goes away. But Ami Hagen, our guest author and mother of Adli, a Gillette patient, says the ups are so worth the downs. Ami tells us about her joys, her worries, and raising a daughter with unwavering spirit.