Testimonials

I know that we still have a ways to go, but now I can finally say that I have that key to the door that lets the light in and I am forever grateful.

My son has moderate ASD with SPD and was officially diagnosed at the age of two. He has been doing occupational, speech and feeding therapy consistently since he was 18 months old. He is now 5 years old. We had made good strides in speech and occupational therapy but when it came to feeding we hadn’t been able to find that special key to unlock the door to him eating a variety of foods. Before we came to the SOS feeding program we had hit a brick wall and were desperate to understand more about the SOS Approach to Feeding because all other avenues had led us to a dead end. We knew there HAD to be something out there for our kiddo that would help him.

When we started our sessions of feeding school with the SOS program I was FLOORED and extremely emotional about how we finally found that missing key we had been searching for all along. The SOS approach was tailored to my son and his needs and it was just amazing how much progress we made in just a few weeks. Our SOS therapist really listened to my son’s cues, likes, and dislikes and plugged them into an equation that even I, as his mother, couldn’t figure out. The SOS Approach was ABSOLUTELY instrumental in getting us past the wall that been blocking my son’s success all this time. My son went from not being able to even be close to certain foods without gagging to not only being close to those same foods but actually tasting them! I was able to learn so much throughout our journey with the SOS Approach to Feeding and I was able to take away vital knowledge that I still use with my son today.

– LeKisha from Texas

Feeding therapy absolutely changed our lives.

We used to have this constant concern of what to feed Khloe, would she eat it, would she get enough calories and the trauma of how we would feel when she refused. We had concerns about feeding tubes in her future and were desperate to avoid this path. We met with countless doctors, therapists, a psychiatrist, a nutritionist, and a dietitian…all weighing in with no solution or real answers.

In a desperate cry for help, we were told about The SOS Approach to Feeding. Dr. Toomey and her team of professionals explained why Khloe “couldn’t” eat, not that she “wouldn’t” eat. She explained the Steps to Eating and created a plan to teach our daughter how to eat. On top of that, she taught us how to prepare and what to prepare so she could find success, joy, and pleasure in eating! Today we have ZERO concerns about food, sometimes I wonder if we need to cut her off and worry she is consuming too many calories! What an amazing problem and turn of events! I can’t thank Dr. Toomey and our fantastic SOS therapist enough for how they have changed our lives. Our family is thriving around the dinner table again!!!

We are living a life we didn’t think possible at one time…so much joy and happiness now. At one time we thought that was gone forever!!! xo

– Michelle, mom of Khloe in Illinois

Update on Khloe - From snake tasting to plate licking in the same meal!

Tonight’s entree was tilapia over cannellini beans with fresh tomato and basil on top. A side of grilled zucchini and garnished with butter and salsa!

In case you needed affirmation of how amazing this program is, here is tonight’s dinner shenanigans with Khloe! We are over the moon each day with how this girl continues to amaze us! Fish I mean seriously I don’t know many kids that eat grilled fish!

The knowledge and confidence he gained from the SOS Program has allowed him to be less selective with food and to expand his diet gradually.

Our son greatly benefited from the SOS Program. It broke down the barriers and allowed him to explore food through games, scientific record keeping, sight, touch and smell when tasting was an obstacle. He now experiences food with less initial judgement and has a greater willingness to try new things.

– Amy, mother of 12 year old son, Graham

Logan shared that he feels this is the "just right" approach for him. I am thrilled and so thankful that you took the time to hear me and guide me in this direction.

We have had two sessions and the amount of progress is mind-blowing to me. I no longer feel ARFID is in the mix and it is clear that Logan still has significant difficulty with his sensory system and oral-motor skills, which the SOS Trained therapist has skillfully been addressing.

Logan shared that he feels this is the “just right” approach for him. I am thrilled and so thankful that you took the time to hear me and guide me in this direction.

– Marla, mom of 15-year-old Logan, from Colorado

Dear Dr. Toomey,

Ian had a writing assignment for school that required him to send someone a letter to give an update about something in his life. He immediately asked if he could send you a letter updating you about his progress since we saw you three years ago.

We are all happy with Ian’s slow and steady progress since he worked with you. While Ian is still picky, he definitely eats many more foods that he did when we met you, and he is no longer brand specific about his foods. He also is willing to “snake taste” foods even if he decides he doesn’t like them. He is also a huge help to his four-year-old brother who is following closely in Ian’s footsteps when it comes to eating issues. When Ryan tries to get up from the table to avoid eating or trying to learn about a new food, Ian tells him “We stay in our chairs until clean up time!” He is a really great coach and cheerleader for Ryan since he went through the same thing!

We really cannot thank you enough for all you did for Ian. Also, we truly appreciate the countless hours you spend traveling around the world to train therapists so they can help others like Ian!

Sincerely,

Ian & Jennifer from Washington D.C.

Our lives have changed dramatically for the better since we spent four weeks at an intensive feeding program where we worked with a SOS trained therapist.

First, I learned my son’s sensory and motor challenges and how to help introduce, play, and work with food in a positive manner. Second, I learned the steps to eating. Third, I learned how life changes and communication affected my son’s eating habits. Our SOS therapist went above and beyond to help us even after our four weeks was complete. She gave me the tools to evaluate my son’s relationship with food, so I felt empowered to help him through the sensory, motor and any minor bumps or jags we had along the way. Fast forward two years and my son wants to be a chef. He is our sous chef in the kitchen and his diet went from crunchy carbs to a full diet that includes a variety of meat, vegetables, and fruit. We couldn’t have done it without our SOS trained therapist. Thank you for making our lives the best they can be!

– Mary Ann, from Michigan

The knowledge I gained from the SOS Approach to Feeding Therapy helped my older daughter, and I was able to apply the same principles with my younger daughter.

Years ago ( sometime around 1996) , Dr. Toomey provided feeding therapy to my autistic daughters who wouldn’t touch food. Nora, my oldest daughter, was about to have a feeding tube placed when I found Dr Toomey. Dr Toomey saved her life. Dina, my other daughter followed the same path but I had already been the expert, being taught by Dr. Toomey, and that resulted in Dina not having a significant of an intervention as Nora did. Yesterday as I watched Nora eat pizza with such an appetite, I remembered Dr. Toomey, and I googled her and found this website I don’t think Dr. Toomey will remember me but I will never forget her. She saved my daughter’s life. This approach is beyond genius!

– Abeer, mom of Dina and Nora, from Colorado

Dear Dr. Kay,

I was one of your patients when I was 2 years old. I had been to many different feeding specialists and no one was able to help. When the doctors thought that nothing could be done and that I needed to get a feeding tube, Child Find introduced us to you. You were able to convince my doctors that you could help and you asked them to give you a chance to work with me before I had surgery. You were very busy and we had given up hope of being able to get an appointment with you but at the last minute you had a cancellation and you were able to see me. After that appointment you told the doctors about your program and they gave you a week. After seeing you that week, they gave you a month to work with me because I was doing so well. After the first couple of months I had made such good progress that they decided I didn’t need a feeding tube after all. My family talks about you all the time and we know that we owe you so much for saving me.

I am now 11 years old and we are studying jobs that keep people healthy. The first person I thought about was you. I’m hoping you can answer some questions for a Science Fair Project so I can share what you do with my classmates and other kids in my school. I would like them to know how wonderful you are.

Hayden

We were desperate when we arrived at the SOS clinic!

I didn’t know how to continue feeding Simon, nor how he would survive a school day. Your wise and thorough evaluation of Simon and your amazing work with him in Food School has given us insight and hope. I am amazed by your knowledge and by your patient and effective work with Simon. We highly value your work and thank you for your investment in our son.

– Francesca, a mom dreading her son going to Kindergarten