Piedmont boy goes home
BETHANY — A Piedmont family recently moved their son home for the first time, two years after he was born. The Children’s Center Rehabilitation Hospital gave a big sendoff for Ethan Exline.
Staff members lined the hallways with feathers representing Ethan’s favorite movie, “Rio,” according to a press release.
Ethan went to The Children’s Center in October 2014 from Integris Baptist Medical Center. He was born prematurely at 26 weeks and spent much of his first year in intensive care units.
During Ethan’s time at the hospital, he worked with occupational, music, speech and physical therapists. He went to school for an hour every day.
Special education teacher Mindy Cash was Ethan’s teacher for 16 months.
She said Ethan is a bundle of joy and has accomplished so much.
“He brightens up anybody’s day. Picking him up for class, he’s always smiling and happy. He just melts your heart,” Cash said.
At one point, Ethan had a tracheostomy tube, but recently doctors removed his tube and gave him the all-clear to move home.
He brightens up anybody’s day. Picking him up for class, he’s always smiling and happy. He just melts your heart.”
MINDY CASH SPECIAL EDUCATION TEACHER, THE CHILDREN’S CENTER REHABILITATION HOSPITAL