Telethon Delivers Life Changing Services

March 22, 2012 Updated Mar 22, 2012 at 11:39 PM EDT

(WKBW) He was a visionary beyond his years Dr. Robert Warner founded The Center for Children with Special Needs at Women and Children's Hospital in 1956. The center was desperately needed to address the polio epidemic, cerebral palsy, and a list of other medical issues emerging in the late 1940's.

Today that work continues with a dedicated team of doctors and therapists lead by Dr. Martin Hoffman.

"It's a busy place and I'm proud to be a part of it now," said Dr. Hoffman.

The center tracks every child born in the neo-natal intensive care unit. Ten thousand children visit the center each year and the staff provides on-going treatment to 5,000 patients every year.

All with varying mental and physical needs.

"Gross motor which means big muscle skills, fine muscle skills, speech and language, skills, cognitive skills which means intelligence awareness issues and social issues too," explained Hoffman.

Christine Pierson's two year old daughter Lilly had delays in speech, motor skills and she had problems eating. When Christine tried to get help she was turned away by other facilities.

"When she was denied for early intervention I basically knew that she still had delays and didn't know what to do about it," said Pierson.

Until she came to the Robert Warner Center.

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Telethon Delivers Life Changing Services