Diagnosed with borderline Autism in February 2010, Georgina Paez is now loving life and achieving great things – even as a child on the spectrum.
Paez, of Kendall, served as a guest speaker at the 11th Annual Sergio Leao Invitational Golf Tournament benefitting ELS and Coral Gables-based Crystal Academy, on April 30. She shared her experiences and how she benefitted from therapy coupled with a combination of therapy and a busy regime of extracurricular activities.
“My mom knew exactly what to do,” said Paez. “She put me in 12 sessions of therapy weekly, six dance classes and swimming. For two years all she did was drive me from one place to another plus make sure that I had as normal a life as possible in a regular school. She even became part of the PTA and made sure I was involved in so many activities at school.
“I think that all kids with the spectrum should have lots of therapies and be pushed as much as my mom has pushed me so that I could make my dreams come true and be the best that I can be.”
And it certainly seems to be working.
Paez was recently crowned Miss Sun Coast Pre-Teen 2018 and in July goes on to the Nationals in where she hopes to be crowned Miss USA National Preteen
“If I win in the Orlando competition in July, I will have the opportunity to represent my entire country and serve communities, elderly, and children in as many ways as possible,” she said.
“I want the world to know that you should never give up.”
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention notes that the current prevalence of autism in the U.S. is one in 68 children — one in 42 boys and one in 189 girls — as having autism spectrum disorder.
“As a mom, I never gave up hope, “ says Barbara Munoz, Georgina’s mother. “With advice from the professionals in the field, hours of therapy, and lots of love, my goal was for my child to be able to maximize her life’s potential.”
Paez’s appearance at the golf tournament was in support of Autism advocate Sergio Leao, father of Felipe Leao, his 10-year-old child on the spectrum, who attends Crystal Academy.
Crystal Academy, serving Coral Gables and the Greater Miami area, helps children on the autism spectrum suffering difficulties in all areas of communication, socialization, and learning.
Leading up to the tournament, Paez served alongside Channel 10 Anchor Jenise Fernandez, MC of the “Heart of Gold” fashion show featuring students, parents and therapists of Crystal Academy on the runway, April 14, at the Coral Gables Woman’s Club.
It was at that event Paez met Sergio Leao, paving the way for her to be invited to the April 30 gold event at the Trump National Doral Miami.
“Telling you my story and how despite of my diagnosis I have fought and struggled but I have made my dreams come true.
I think maybe this was meant to be a test for me to see that there are always options and doors that can be opened to make things better.”
Paez also participated in the highly successful Autism Speaks Walk in Downtown Doral, April 29, walking three miles to raise $500 for the organization.
