NY1's latest Queens Person of the Week is leading the charge in helping families with special needs children get the help they need. Our Leisha Majtan introduces us.
At 18 weeks pregnant, Trishia Bermudez got news from doctors she never expected to hear.
She was told her son would be born with a rare genetic disorder, causing life-long health issues and severe developmental delays.
"When the genetics counselor dropped that bomb, I cried! I outright bawled!" said Trishia Bermudez, NY1’s Queens Person of the Week.
The Arverne mom said although there have been many challenges, Matthew, her 4-year-old son, is doing better than she ever expected.
"He's progressed very nicely. He's always been a happy kid, always," said Bermudez.
Getting to this point though hasn't been easy. Bermudez said the Rockaways are underserved when it comes to resources for children with special needs.
The single mom struggles to find doctors, daycare, recreational centers, and schools for her son on the peninsula.
"Why does it have it be so hard to get information? Why does it have to be so hard to get services?" Bermudez wondered.
Bermudez is trying to change that. She founded "Perfect Piece of the Puzzle," a nonprofit to bridge the gap between services and the families who need them.
Bermudez recently hosted a workshop with other parents to get the ball rolling.
"I'm not the only person that's going through transportation issues, I'm not the only person who's had a kid kicked out of daycare. I'm not the only single parent that needs the extra help," added Bermudez.
Bermudez hopes to one day open a center of her own and be a shoulder to lean on for other parents going through similar situations.
"Mainly, I want to be able to be that person for somebody because I know what it's like to not have that sometimes," said Bermudez.
And so, for finding the missing puzzle piece to help make the Rockaways a special place for all, Trishia Bermudez is our Queens Person of the Week.