Feature Family Member

Doing it for the right reasons.

THERAPY 2000's Holiday Party took place last December 15. More than 225 people attended the event. One of the highlights of the evening was the announcement of the Employee of the Year.

Ezequiel Valdez, PTA, received this award. Zeke said he felt humbled when he heard the news and said that he was only doing what he was supposed to do.

And what Zeke thinks he's supposed to be doing is help our patient's families see how they can have a more meaningful quality of life.

"These kids have special needs but they are just like any other kids," Zeke said. "They need care, they don't just need somebody to go in there and do exercises with them. They need somebody who can motivate them to do these things."

After five years with THERAPY 2000, Zeke said that he continues working for THERAPY 2000 because his job is a learning experience and that he thinks he will never stop learning.

"Being able to really have hands on with the kids, good supervisors, great therapists that you have to work with," Zeke said. "That's what keeps me here. Because it's not just me doing this, it's a whole team."

THERAPY 2000's team and the opportunity that the company provides to his employees to better themselves have helped him become the therapist that he is today.

"[I've learned] how to do things better," Zeke said. "How to do things differently. The fact that they're supporting us in doing that, encouraging us to take those classes, to learn more, to be involved in research, reading."

Zeke said that he does not live to work but when he works, he gives 100% of who he is, of what he does.

"When I go into somebody's home to see their child," Zeke said. "I just think 'I have half an hour, 45 minutes with this kid today. What can I do today to make this worth it? To make this half an hour, this 45 minutes that I’m spending with this kid worth it for them and for their family'"

Zeke will be spending more than 45 minutes in Paris in February. THERAPY 2000 asked him to pick between Rome or Paris to send him there as a reward for doing a great job.

Doing it for the right reasons is what Zeke said has made him Employee and PT of the year because he enjoys what he does and enjoys helping families have happier lives.