Saving Charles - Cody Child Care team, dubbed 'Team Neumann,' helps military family overcome adversi

Charles and Tara Neumann welcomed their son, Charles Jr., into the world nearly three years ago.

For the busy dual-career military couple -- Charles is an active duty Soldier and Tara works outside the home -- Cody Child Development Center on Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall provided the best fit for their child care needs.

"When we first came here, he was still on the bottle and we didn't know how many issues he was going to have," said Tara. "When all the kids were eating [food and he wasn't], that's when we realized there was something different with him. That's when we reached outside."

A troubling diagnosis

The couple took Charles Jr. to Children's National Hospital in Washington, D.C., where they learned what was causing him to gag and force himself to vomit whenever he was given anything to eat.

Doctors determined that he had oral hypersensitivities and a sensory disorder to the taste and textures of food; a feeding therapy program developed for Charles Jr., by another group of civilian providers led to tears for both the boy and Tara.

"We seriously had to strap him in his chair and hold his arms behind him," she said as tears sprung to her eyes at the memory. "He would cry and cry and cry. It looked like torture."

Even with the forced feedings, bi-weekly trips to the pediatric doctor showed Charles Jr. was in the bottom 5th percentile for his weight and age. All the while, Charles Jr. was growing older and there was another cloud on the horizon: He would soon be aged out of the infants' room.

That led to a dilemma for Charles and Tara: Should Tara quit her job in order to stay home and take care of Charles Jr.?

"We were terrified to move him up," she said.

Team Neumann is born

Before making the transition out of the infants' room, the Neumanns met with Cody CDC Director Sunny Smith, who made them a promise: if the couple continued to entrust their son to the CDC, Smith promised he would be put with the right people to help him.

"The number one thing we did was meet our mission so Mr. Neumann could go to work and Mrs. Neumann could go to work," said Smith.

Charles Jr. was initially placed with teacher Kimberly Pyron, who learned how to hold his arms down, open his mouth and feed him. CDC staffers Lavonda Cockrell, Tacoya Dozier, Russell Morten, LaTonya Webster and Chelish Wise quickly became part of Team Neumann, coming together to encourage Charles Jr. to eat. It was an 18 month process.

That teamwork and dedication to one little boy and his parents has paid off. Charles Jr. is now eating chicken nuggets, Graham Crackers and other foods, leading to a healthy weight gain.

"He's doing real good now," said Pyron proudly.

An honor for the team

Looking over the course of the past two years, the Neumanns said they do not know where they would be without the members of their Cody CDC team. Morten even came to their home to watch Charles Jr. so the couple could enjoy a night out.

"They are the closest things to family we have here," Tara said.

"From the day we got in here, this place was top-notch over all the other child centers we toured," said Charles. "They always have Charles' best interests at heart."

The couple nominated Team Neumann for a Blue Tie Award, given to members of the JBM-HH community who are deemed children's heroes.

"This is the CDC I know and love," said JBM-HH Commander Col. Mike Henderson when he presented team members with the award last month. "They take care of our children. Our kids are in good hands."