Dylan Firenze is an 8-year-old who on his best day still faces more difficulties than the typical person does on a bad day.  Dylan suffers from Tourette Syndrome, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, Anxiety Disorder, Attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder and Sensory Processing Disorder.  Dylan has an older brother and a younger sister who both suffer from many of the same conditions that he was born with. His father Jim and older brother David, 18 both work for National Tourette Syndrome Association.  

 

Upon first glance one would not know that Dylan is any different from his friends. His parents Jim and Kristine Firenze do not allowed Dylan any leniencies; instead they look for solutions and ways to improve his quality of life. “Up to a year ago we could not even get Dylan to ride the bus to school, we would eventually drive him ourselves out of desperation,” Jim said.  Instead of using medication to subdue Dylan’s medical diagnoses his parents chose to go with another method – Martial Arts. 

 

Dylan’s martial arts practice has reduced his anxiety and his confidence has drastically improved.  He now rides the school school bus in confidence.  And while there is a slim chance that Dylan will ever be free of the disorders that have developed within him there are many steps that his parents have taken to improve his conditions via a non-prescription method.