Meet Nathan

Nathan is a third grade student who has just learned to read! Please read his story below:

Nathan’s medical history:
A few weeks into his kindergarten school year, our son was diagnosed with a rare benign brain tumor called a DNET. The tumor, located in his right temporal, parietal and occipital areas of his brain, caused him to have complex partial/secondary generalized seizures up to 8 times per day despite taking seizure medication. Nathan once described the seizures he had in kindergarten as "my eyes don't see and my ears don't hear". The ping pong ball sized tumor was removed when our son was 6 years old and the seizures went away for nearly one year but they returned when our son was a first grader. Residual/recurrent tumor as well as epileptogenic tissue (which the neurosurgeon said was five times the size of the original tumor) was removed when our son was 8 years old. After 3 brain surgeries, hundreds and hundreds of seizures, and side effects from multiple seizure medications our son was left with symptomatic localization related epilepsy, visual spatial processing deficit, probable partial left hemianopia, vascular migraines, and anxiety.

At Excel Achievement Center
Nathan received 86 hours of instruction between November, 2009 and April, 2010. When Nathan began at Excel Achievement Center he was a third grader reading at the Kindergarten level. We are now pleased to report that his reading comprehension and word recognition are at the third grade level! His overal reading, which includes his phonics, reading accuracy and fluency is at grade 2.7.

Parent Comments:
Thank you!!!!! We can't say that enough. Nathan has blossomed in the last 4 months thanks to you guys! You helped him find his confidence and self esteem. I have told you this before, but I watched Nathan come out of public school with his shoulders slumped over and tears in his eyes nearly every day. After fighting seizures, brain tumors, and surgeries it was horrible to see him struggle just to go to school. In contrast, I would see Nathan come out from Excel looking like he grew an inch taller and I will never forgot hearing him say "they said I can learn to read", and "I read a book today - not slow, but normal". I showed him his test results today and he is so proud of himself! I know Nathan worked hard and we are so glad we found you/Excel. Thank you again!