Every year, Rochester Regional Health and Golisano Children’s Hospital recognize children whose strength and resilience have inspired those around them. The Miracle Kids series highlights children who have overcome extraordinary medical challenges, along with the families and medical professionals who supported them throughout their journeys. 13WHAM is honored to share their stories.
Rochester, N.Y. (WHAM) — If there’s one thing to learn from Tommy Klein, it’s that joy can exist everywhere, every single day.
“Tommy, out of all the kids, has a love for life, which truly he just emulates,” said Emma Beach, behavior analyst for developmental and behavioral pediatrics at Golisano Children’s Hospital.
Tommy was a happy but quiet baby, and at only 3 months old, his mother Suzanne and father Mike noticed he was developing differently.
“Tommy, right when he was born, he didn’t like being held as much as my daughter,” Suzanne said. “He seemed internally uncomfortable, and I was concerned. Then as the months went on, he was real happy, but almost too complacent. Just fine sitting in the corner just hanging out, smiling.”
As Tommy began to miss milestones, the Kleins began looking for some kind of explanation.
At 20 months old, doctors officially determined Tommy had autism. Suzanne and Mike knew early intervention could make a big difference.
“Being able to really intervene early on, those skill areas that matter to set the child up for success, both now and in the future,” said UR Medicine psychologist Dr. Ally Jordan.
With Mike being a clinical psychologist, the diagnosis wasn’t a shock. But they knew they needed to find a way to communicate with their son so he could get the most out of life.
At the time, local treatment options were limited.
“But with autism, one thing that’s really apparent is you have to think outside of the box,” Mike said. “So there was a lot of research.”
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Suzanne and Mike became Tommy’s biggest advocates. Suzanne spent years researching autism interventions, connecting with experts and learning different therapies herself — all to find what worked best for Tommy.
In 2022, Tommy became part of a research study at Golisano Children’s Hospital, the only place in the region offering a program called “JASPER.”
“JASPER stands for Joint Attention, Symbolic Play, Engagement and Regulation,” Beach explained. “It is a play-based social communication intervention.”
Unlike more traditional approaches, JASPER used Tommy’s own interests and play to build communication and connection — something Suzanne had long hoped to find for her son.
“I was ecstatic when JASPER became available in Rochester,” Suzanne said.
“I’d always kept an eye on the research databases that were even within the state or nearby, because I really wanted Tommy to have access to a service that was of high fidelity,” Suzanne continued.
Through JASPER, Tommy began to thrive. Milestones that may seem small to some were game-changing for the Klein family.
“I think the most is when Tommy came over on his own and gave us a hug,” Mike said. “I think when he said various words, when his speech progressed gradually.”
Then came a moment the parents waited years for.
“He just looked right in my eyes and said ‘I love you,'” Suzanne recalled. “He had never said that to me before, and he’s 8. To hear that, and for how long I waited to hear that, I started to just tear up.”
Before the moment could get too emotional, Tommy’s big sister, Ella, jumped in with a quick reminder.
“My daughter, who often makes things funny, was like ‘I don’t know why you’re crying. I tell you I love you all the time,'” Mike said.
Up until that point, Tommy didn’t have the words for it, but Mike and Suzanne said they always knew their son loved them.
“Tommy was always able to communicate with his body, but verbally he wasn’t able to,” Beach said.
Now, because of JASPER, the dedication from the caregivers at Golisano and the advocacy of Tommy’s parents, life looks much different.
The program has since helped expand access to play-based autism intervention for other local families.
“He was always lovable,” Suzanne said. “He’s always been so sweet and such a joy. But there’s just a different level of connection between us now.”
“He’s a real character,” Mike added. “He likes to be a little mischievous little guy.”
Tommy loves street signs, reading with his family and riding up and down the driveway on his bike with his sister.
“Such a witty little guy,” Mike continued. “Getting to know him as he develops, it’s just awesome.”
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about 1 in 31 children have been identified with autism spectrum disorder.
While parents may feel scared or overwhelmed by the diagnosis, Mike and Suzanne want people to know the love is always there — even if it takes time to find the words.
“Every day is a day you can’t get back,” Suzanne said. “So don’t miss any of those teachable opportunities and keep going, because you can do it.”
