Bettendorf boy goes from non-speaking to “chatterbox” in 11-months with the help of MercyOne Genesis Bettendorf Pediatric Therapy

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Bryce Gronowski loves to walk and talk, but until he started working with the therapists at MercyOne Genesis Bettendorf Pediatric Therapy (GOPEDS), he couldn’t do either.

When you first meet the chatty 6-year-old from Bettendorf, he will ask you which car brand you drive or which toothpaste you use. He is a walking, talking encyclopedia on brands of soap, toothpaste, cars and detergent.

Bryce, who was born prematurely at 26 weeks, has cerebral palsy and hydrocephalus. Both conditions can make walking and talking difficult.

Cerebral palsy (CP) is a group of neurological disorders that permanently affect movement, muscle tone, and posture.

Hydrocephalus is an abnormal buildup of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) in the brain. Bryce has a permanent shunt to drain the fluid.

When he started at GOPEDS in September of 2020, after being referred by his neonatologist, he was just a baby.  He started with physical and occupational therapy, and as he grew older, feeding and speech therapy were added to his routine.

Learning to communicate

Speech might be his greatest achievement thus far in his young life.

“When he started speech therapy, he was non-speaking,” said Jennifer Berger, MercyOne Genesis pediatric speech therapist. “We helped him to better use his communication device, where he touches a picture on the screen, and the device says the word.”

With that device, Berger says his speech and language “exploded.”

“From there, he started speaking with words we could understand and started having full conversations.”

A remarkable achievement to go from non-speaking to being a “chatterbox” as his mother calls him, in only 11 months.

Taking his first steps

Bryce’s walking journey can be divided into two periods– pre-surgery and post-surgery.

In June of 2025, Bryce had a procedure called a selective dorsal rhizotomy (SDR) at St. Louis Children’s Hospital. It is a neurosurgical procedure used to permanently reduce severe muscle spasticity (stiffness and tightness) in the legs, typically in children with cerebral palsy. SDR involves sectioning (cutting) some sensory nerve fibers that originate in the muscles and enter the spinal cord.

“Prior to his surgery, he had a lot of decreased trunk control. He could not transition into a kneeling position and needed significant assistance just to get into a standing position,” said Paige Kelly, MercyOne Genesis pediatric therapist.

“Since his surgery, with the help of intensive physical and occupational therapy here at GOPEDS, he is now climbing in and out of his bed at home. He's able to get into a standing position. He's standing independently and taking independent steps, which is huge.”

The protocol following an SDR is physical therapy five days a week. Bryce is doing so well that his PT sessions have been reduced to three days a week.

“It was only six months after his surgery that he took his first steps here at GOPEDS,” said his mom.

Little moments are big moments for Bryce

“His mom sent us a video recently from their trip to a museum. Bryce was able to walk with his dad holding just one hand. I feel like a lot of us take this for granted and think of it as an ordinary movement, but for that family, that was extraordinary. That was amazing,” said Kelly.

Bryce’s therapy has encompassed everything from speech and walking to writing and using scissors.

“His transformations across all areas have been amazing. Progress is slow, and on a day-to-day basis, you might not see a ton of progress. But when you consider where he started, where he is now, and all the things he can do and has learned, it's really awesome,” said Bryce’s proud mom.

Stephanie says her son’s therapy routine can be a bit of a “grind” but believes it is worth every minute. “We think of everyone at GOPEDS like family, not to mention Bryce would rather be at GOPEDS than anywhere else.”

“Some of our best moments that we've had have been here. His growth has been just amazing.”

Bryce is the June 2026 MercyOne Genesis Home Runs for Life honoree, and he and his family will be honored during the Quad Cities River Bandits game on Friday, June 19, at the end of the second inning.