Respiratory Clinic

Overview

This clinic addresses children in a proactive manner and collaborates with their doctor or therapy team to address the long-term health for the child to have success into adulthood and beyond. Children with a respiratory issue expend a lot of energy on breathing and will have a difficult time meeting their milestones without the work to improve their biomechanical motor control, positioning, and strength. The Clinic is offered at our Villa Park center twice a month on Mondays and Fridays. Please note this clinic is not billed to insurance and is an out-of-pocket expense. 

Clinic Focus

Children with respiratory issues, rib cage or spinal deformities, tracheostomies, and other related issues. Each patient consultation is two hours long and thoroughly explores the inter-relationship of the cardiopulmonary, neuromuscular, musculoskeletal, integumentary (skin/connective tissue) and gastro-intestinal systems on the child's health and motor skills. When needed follow-up sessions are scheduled.

Diagnoses Seen in the Clinic:

• Cerebral Palsy
• Muscular Dystrophy / Duchene muscular dystrophy
• Cystic Fibrosis
• Genetic Conditions
• Spinal muscular atrophy
• Acquired neuropathies
• Congenital myopathies
• Metabolic myopathies
• Myasthenia gravis and congenital myasthenic syndromes
• Myelodysplasia, including spina bifida and myelomeningocele
• Arthrogryposis
• Prader-Willi

Meet the Consultants

Mary Massery, PT, DPT, DSc 

Dr. Massery has been a practicing physical therapist for 40+ years. Shre received her BS in Physical Therapy from Northwestern University, her DPT from the University of the Pacific, and her DSc from Rocky Mountain University. Dr. Massery has been invited to give over 1,000 professional presentations in all 50 US states and 18 countries worldwide, including more than 100 presentations for the American Physical Therapy Association. Mary has received national awards from the APTA, including its highest clinical award, "The Florence Kendall Practice Award." She is passionate about helping families understand their child's long-term health and pain risks to maximize quality of life and fun!

Julie Wattenberg-Crawford, PT, MPT, DPT

Physical therapist, Dr. Wattenberg-Crawford, received her MPT and DPT at Northwestern University. Julie has worked extensively in pediatric physical therapy for 20+ years. She was the lead Neonatal Intensive Care Unit therapist in a level 3 NICU for 12 years. Julie has worked with Mary Massery for 15+ years with mutual clinic patients, and as a teaching assistant in her physical therapy courses. Her passion is transitioning patients, and their families, from "surviving to thriving" and instructing therapists and families on how to achieve that goal. 

Lindsay Jorns, MPT, DPT

Dr. Jorns has been a practicing physical therapist for 20+ years, completing her MPT at Northern Illinois University and her DPT at Rosalind Franklin University. She worked at Marianjoy Rehabilitation Hospital in Wheaton for 17 years, primarily in pediatrics, in inpatient and outpatient settings, day rehab, group therapy, and Early Intervention, thus giving her a unique perspective from infancy to adulthood and an acknowledgment to keep a watchful eye on these children throughout all of childhood. Lindsay currently works in the school setting with children up to 22 years old with a strong focus on children with autism and multiple disabilities, as well as emotional/behavioral disorders. Dr. Jorns has teaching experience with DPT students at her alma mater NIU, as well as being a teaching assistant for Mary Massery's physical therapy courses for 15+ years. Lindsay's PT experience across multiple environments and ages, and her experience as a mother of three children, allows her to see the entire child within the context of their whole family and community. 

How do I get started?

Please note: This clinic is not billed to insurance. Contact our Scheduling Coordinator, Christy Stringini, at preferably cstringini@eastersealsdfvr.org to ask questions or schedule an appointment. Please visit Mary Massery's website for more information or visit the frequently asked questions page.