WNC Sprouts Pediatric Therapy PLLC

06/12/2026

🌱🌱🌱

The other day, I was at a daycare when a little girl started playing with my ID badge. She looked up at me and asked, "What's your name?" After I answered, she pointed to the little groundhog on my badge—although she was convinced it was a beaver—and asked, "What's his name?"

For a moment, I paused.

It made me realize that I've never been asked that question "in the wild." Of course, I smiled and told her, "His name is Isaiah."

Since that simple interaction, I've probably thought about it a hundred times. It felt like such a beautiful reminder and blessing during a season when we've been receiving exciting news about things to come. We're so excited to collaborate with Winding Stair Farms for our upcoming Garden Club event, and it made me stop and reflect on all the blessings and good things happening around us.

Life isn't always easy. There are challenging moments, and our world can feel especially heavy right now. But even in the midst of that, there is still beauty. Sometimes it shows up in the curiosity of a child, a tiny conversation, or a small reminder to look up and be grateful.

As we prepare for our very first Garden Club event, I just wanted to take a moment to remember Isaiah. Thank you for watching over us, for sending us blessings, and for reminding us to notice the beauty in the little things.

I also recently had the opportunity to take photos with Callie Whittle Lynch at a local family's greenhouse. Gardening has always been a passion of mine, and I'm so excited to share that love with our community. I can't wait to see what grows—not just in our gardens, but in the connections we build together. 🌱💚

And as we bring this vision to life, we’d love our community to be a part of it. If you have a passion for gardening and would like to participate, share your knowledge or experience, volunteer your time, or donate supplies or funds to help make our very first Garden Club event a success, we would be incredibly grateful. Every seed planted, every lesson shared, and every act of kindness helps our community grow. Please connect with us—we would love to have you join us on this journey. ❤️🌻

06/01/2026

🌱🎂Happy Birthday Abby Jones!! 🎂🌱

Where do I even begin when it comes to expressing my gratitude for this incredible person?

Since the very beginning of WNC Sprouts Pediatric Therapy, Abby Jones has been a pillar of strength and an essential part of our foundation. She has stood beside me as a friend, confidant, teammate, and trusted professional. Her dedication to our clients, children, and families is unmatched, and the impact she has made on countless lives cannot be measured.

Abby is an exceptional Occupational Therapy Assistant with years of experience, a wealth of knowledge, and a remarkable ability to see and meet the true needs of the families we serve. Beyond her professional talents, she is an amazing wife, devoted mother to three beautiful children, loving daughter, and a cherished friend to so many.

Today, we celebrate not only all that Abby does, but who she is. WNC Sprouts would not be where it is today without her unwavering commitment, compassion, and support. We are beyond blessed to have her as part of our team and our family.

Please join us in wishing Abby the happiest of birthdays and showing her all the love she deserves!

Happy Birthday, Abby! We love and appreciate you more than words could ever express. 🎉🎂💚

05/10/2026

04/21/2026

We’re excited to share this new venture! 🌱 In collaboration with Winding Stair Gardens, we’re planning to launch a family gardening club.

Our goal is to create a safe, welcoming space for families who may need a less structured activity—while still being engaging for the whole family. 💚

We are planning to start with a focused club for children with special needs, with goals to grow into additional opportunities for other children and families as we expand.

We want this to be fully inclusive, supporting children, parents, siblings, and caregivers.

We know special needs families often struggle to find the right fit—especially in rural areas where options are limited—but we’re lucky to have an incredible natural environment to grow from. 🌿

Right now, we’re gathering feedback first to help shape our launch and determine the best starting point.

👉 Please share your interest level, along with any feedback, thoughts, or concerns so we can make our initial launch a success! 🌼

01/25/2026

Happy Birthday to our amazing COTA, Patience Patience Nicole Laws 🎉💐

We are so grateful for you at WNC Sprouts and for the incredible care you provide to our families in the Robbinsville area!!

Patience has additional certification as a Functional Nutrition Informed Professional, and she brings that knowledge and passion into her work with such thoughtfulness and intention. Your kindness, gentleness, and calm spirit shine through everything you do, and the way you serve others so beautifully reflects your strong faith in God. 🤍

From your peaceful presence and compassionate heart to your love for neutral tones, bohemian style, iced coffee, and healthy snacks ☕🌿—you bring warmth and balance wherever you go. Our kids, families, and team are truly blessed by you.

We hope your birthday is filled with joy, love, and all your favorite things. Thank you for being such a blessing to WNC Sprouts! 💛✨

12/28/2025

🎉 Happy Birthday, Amber! 🎉

Today we’re celebrating Amber—another one of our incredible therapist's who has a way of making people feel comfortable, heard, and supported without even trying. She brings so much heart to what she does, and we’re lucky to have her on our team. She always brings so much peace when there's chaos swirling in all directions! 😉

Outside of work, Amber is usually fueled by iced coffee, dreaming about her perfect weekend at the lake, or fitting in time at the gym. After a long day, she loves to relax with some binge-watching, and one of her favorite family traditions is going to the beach on vacation.

Most importantly, Amber loves spending her free time with her husband, her daughters, and her close-knit extended family. She is the sister-in-law of our reason for being, Isaiah Jacobs, and that bond holds profound meaning—serving as a constant reminder of why we continue to persevere.

Help us wish Amber the happiest birthday! We hope today is full of coffee, laughter, and a little extra time to relax. 🎂🎈

We love you Amber! Happiest of birthdays!!

12/15/2025

One Year Remembering Isaiah 🕊️

Today marks one year since Isaiah’s passing, and not a single day goes by that his presence isn’t felt at WNC Sprouts Pediatric Therapy.

Many of you already know our journey, but for those who don’t—our story began as part of the Beautifully Intertwined family. For over five years, we worked side-by-side under the guidance of Cassie Lindley, learning not only how to be better therapists, but better humans. Together, we served families across Western North Carolina, rooted in a shared passion for providing therapy in the natural environment.

Everything changed with the heartbreaking loss of Isaiah Jacobs—the heart and soul of Beautifully Intertwined. Isaiah, Cassie’s son, passed away unexpectedly at just 26 years old. Diagnosed with Down syndrome, Isaiah was pure light. He was the reason Beautifully Intertwined was born. Through her love and advocacy for Isaiah, Cassie built something extraordinary in a region with limited resources—a place of education, support and hope for thousands of families.

Through grief, gratitude, and growth, WNC Sprouts was born.

Isaiah is the reason we began.
He is the foundation beneath our feet.
He has shaped and molded our framework.

Even through growing pains and difficult seasons, Isaiah continues to push us forward—reminding us why this work matters and who we serve.

🌟 Re-introducing Isaiah—Our Mascot & Storyteller 🌟

We’d also love to re-introduce a very special member of our team—Isaiah the Groundhog, our official mascot. Named in honor of the boy who started it all, he represents the heart of WNC Sprouts.

Every part of our brand carries meaning:
🏔️ The Mountains reflect the place we call home.
🌼 The dandelion reminds us that beauty and growth can come from even the most unexpected places.
🌱 Sprouts symbolizes our belief that with care and support, small seeds can grow into something beautiful.
🦫 And the groundhog—a symbol born from countless unexpected sightings in our early days—became our reminder of roots, wonder, and new beginnings.

We owe so much to Cassie—our mentor and friend—and to Isaiah, whose legacy continues to guide us every single day.

Today, we honor Isaiah.
We carry him with us.
And we promise to keep growing—together. 💙

12/14/2025

🙌🙌🙌

📣 Advocacy Works—and This Is Proof.

On Tuesday, December 9, Governor Josh Stein announced that North Carolina will repeal the Medicaid rate cuts that went into effect on October 1. These cuts, first announced by DHHS in August, included a 3% reduction to occupational therapy reimbursement on top of already historically low rates. Providers will receive retroactive reimbursement for the time the cuts were in place.

This outcome did not happen by chance.

After countless hours of coordinated advocacy with legislators, DHHS leadership, and the Governor’s office, NCOTA was invited to participate in the official press conference announcing the repeal—ensuring occupational therapy had a seat at the table.

NCOTA Vice President Clarice Grote attended the press conference and shared the following statement for the official press release:

“Medicaid recipients of all ages depend on occupational therapy services to support them in their daily lives,” said NC Occupational Therapy Association (NCOTA) Vice President Clarice Grote. “NCOTA is grateful to the Governor for today’s announcement.”

The rate cuts were initially proposed in response to a reported $800 million Medicaid budget shortfall. While this repeal is an important win, the work is not over. NCOTA will continue advocating for full Medicaid funding and meaningful rate increases that reflect the value of occupational therapy and protect access to care across North Carolina.

💪 This level of advocacy requires strength in numbers.
Membership directly strengthens NCOTA’s ability to respond to policy threats, engage in high-level advocacy, and protect OT practice in our state.

If you’re not yet a member, now is the time to join. If you are a member—thank you for making this work possible, and please encourage a colleague to join as well.

✨ Together, we are stronger, louder, and more effective.

👉 Join NCOTA today to strengthen our advocacy.

12/12/2025

🎉🌱 Happy Birthday, Leslie! 🌱🎉
Join us in celebrating one of WNC Sprouts Pediatric Therapy’s most fun and creative Occupational Therapist Assistant's, Leslie Rubio!

If you know Leslie, you know she brings warmth, joy, and heart into everything she does—whether she’s supporting kiddos and their families, decorating for events and celebrations, or spending time with her family. 🎂✨

Leslie was born and raised right here in Franklin and is the oldest of four siblings. Family and heritage mean everything to her. Proud of her Mexican roots, she grew up surrounded by music—her father’s longtime involvement in the church choir inspired all the kids to join, and Leslie inherited an incredible voice of her own. 🎶 She loves singing in both English and Spanish and even plays the piano and mandolin!

She was born on a very special day in the Catholic church—Our Lady of Guadalupe—and as a child wondered why her birthday always meant extra time at church. Over the years, that day has become a beautiful symbol of her pride in her faith and culture. 🇲🇽❤️

Leslie loves all things cozy and festive—Christmas is her favorite time of year (she loves ALL the blankets), and she’s the first to ask when the tree is going up. Her favorite foods include posole, tacos, tamales, and chocolate abuelita… all the comforting classics!

She adores her fur babies, Coco and Rocky, and treasures time with her family—including missing her grandparents deeply when they spend winter in Mexico. It’s clear her love for music, tradition, and joy comes from them. ❤️🎵

Leslie, we are so grateful for your heart, your creativity, your culture, your beautiful smile, and the light you bring to WNC Sprouts every single day. 🌟

Feliz Cumpleaños, Leslie!
Thank you for being YOU. 💚🌱