Meet Kaylie Vrabel-Lopez, Physical Therapist

As one of Happy Hearts’ newest providers, physical therapist Kaylie Vrabel-Lopez helps children with gross motor skill delays hit age appropriate milestones. “It fills my cup to help other people realize that they are able to achieve so much more than they thought,” she explains. “Both parents and kiddos. Just seeing them reach their goals is the whole reason I do this.”

Kaylie graduated from DeSales University with a doctorate of physical therapy in 2021. She then began providing outpatient orthopedic physical therapy for patients from 5 to 95 years old. Six months ago she began working with pediatric patients and realized that’s where her heart truly lies. “Babies are so fulfilling, so adorable, so pure,” she shares.

Although she’d learned about early intervention in school, she didn’t fully grasp the concept until she started seeing job postings and decided to read more about it. After talking to classmates who were providing early intervention services in other states, she realized it was exactly what she was looking for. She applied to Happy Hearts, joined the team in November, and started seeing clients in April.

When asked about her favorite part of her new role, she answered, “Am I allowed to say the cuddles? Seriously, the pure love and the connection with the kids you can achieve with this sort of job is so fulfilling. You’re coming into their environment and becoming such a big part of their life. Then you get to get excited right along with their parents when they hit their milestones after months of hard work.”

When she’s not working, Kaylie loves spending time with her 15-month old daughter. She also does a lot of crafting and enjoys starting new projects, including sewing, knitting, drawing, painting, sculpting, poetry, and gardening–basically anything she can get her hands on. She also plays volleyball. But after years of “go-go-go” she’s starting to relish slowing down and really savoring everyday moments with her daughter.

Kaylie advises parents who are new to early intervention to remember that it’s a parent based service. While the provider will be there every step of the way to help facilitate the learning experience, parents are the most hands on with their child and their active participation is crucial in helping them achieve their goals.

For any parents who may be concerned their child is behind in their development and may need physical therapy, Kaylie encourages them to talk to their pediatrician. She acknowledges that it’s hard not to compare your child to their peers or older siblings. But because each child develops differently, it’s best to consult an expert. “You’re never going to have a bad question when it comes to your kids.”