In 2014, Lynn Barghout Jafar’s world was forever changed when her eldest daughter, Alia, was born and soon after diagnosed with CDKL5 Deficiency Disorder, a rare, complex neurogenetic condition which causes refractory epilepsy and severe motor and cognitive developmental challenges, with most patients unable to walk or talk and needing round the clock care. That diagnosis transformed the course of their lives in ways no one could have anticipated. As a mother, Lynn first sought to obtain superior therapies and care solutions for her daughter’s development but struggled at that time to find both centralized attention and specialized comprehensive services that were needed. In searching for these, she and her family learned the emotional and logistical complexity of caring for a special needs’ child.
The situation she faced made Lynn choose to take control of the matter. A profound motherly devotion to her daughter ignited a mission within Lynn which became the foundation for transforming her family’s destiny and developing a care facility helping numerous other children. To build a comprehensive facility that would provide one-stop integrated care for children with complex special needs Lynn founded High Hopes Pediatric Therapy Center in Dubai.
She made this strategic choice to establish High Hopes not solely to meet medical needs but also to establish an environment where families could receive specialized therapy along with essential emotional and practical guidance. Precise planning went into the center because it aimed to address the feelings of isolation that characterizes the special needs experience. Throughout her journey Lynn established High Hopes to ensure parents and children would always have the support they needed to navigate this path together.
Let’s learn how one mother’s vision became a sanctuary for families facing the challenges of raising children with complex needs!
The Birth of High Hopes
Lynn started her mission to create High Hopes by developing it through her own life experience. Facing Alia’s diagnosis presented her with the stark absence of unified services necessary to support a child in her condition in just one facility. Each clinician or therapist expert provided essential pieces to the holistic care puzzle but no professional could piece together the complete picture. Thus, the family had to journey across the city to various specialists. The experience of searching for suitable services for Alia established the basis for High Hopes.
“I didn’t want other families to go through the same struggles,” Lynn says. “I realized that if I could create something that would make the process easier, more accessible, and more effective, I would be doing something meaningful not just for my own daughter, but for all families going through similar challenges.”
High Hopes emerged as a concept resulting from that fundamental vision. To fulfill its purpose the center established its mission which involved delivering premium therapeutic services through combined treatment approaches designed specifically for individual child requirements. Since its establishment the center has grown into a well-established space where families find comfort to access different treatments including physiotherapy alongside occupational therapy speech and language therapy and applied behavior analysis (ABA) along with various other services in one convenient spot.
Filling the Gap for Children with Special Needs
When Alia was diagnosed, Lynn saw that healthcare services failed to meet the needs of children who needed complex specialized medical attention. Despite having skilled specialists in the area children struggled to access comprehensive care, which their holistic requirements demanded because professionals lacked interdisciplinary collaboration. She learned that each child needed specialized care from multiple practitioners, yet this type of integrated approach was still lacking during that period.
“The gap was clear,” she explains. “Children with complex needs needed more than just one kind of therapy. They needed a team of professionals working together, not in isolation. The idea was to create a place where these services could work in harmony, so every child’s development could be supported in every area—physically, mentally, emotionally.”
The interdisciplinary approach at High Hopes ensures that children are treated holistically, with every therapist working together to understand the child’s full development, adapt to their needs as they grow, and collaborate on the most effective treatment plan possible. At High Hopes, the child is at the center, but the family is always part of the equation too.
A Mother’s Perspective Shaping the Vision
Lynn’s personal experience as a mother of a child with a complex medical condition has been a guiding force in shaping the operations and philosophy of the center. “Being Alia’s mom has completely shaped how I view therapy and what High Hopes is all about,” she shares. “It’s one thing to read about therapies and interventions in books, but it’s another to live through the emotional highs and lows of a child’s developmental journey. It gives you a completely different perspective on what’s needed and what families truly require.”
As a mother, Lynn understood the emotional toll that seeking help for a child with special needs can have. She knew that families often feel overwhelmed, isolated, and unsure about where to turn for help. “At High Hopes, we’re not just providing therapy; we’re creating a safe space where families can feel heard and supported. This is a place where parents can come and know that they’re not alone.”
Lynn’s journey wasn’t just about setting up a therapy center; it was about creating a sanctuary for families where they could find not only the treatment but also the emotional understanding they needed. It was about offering hope to parents who, like her, felt desperate at times, but who were also determined to see their children succeed.
Facing Challenges and Overcoming Obstacles
Establishing a specialized therapy center in the UAE required the resolution of diverse operational challenges. The immediate priority was acquiring experts whose technical expertise matched their capability to empathize with children dealing with complex difficulties. To Lynn it was important that every therapist shared her passion and vision for providing comprehensive care.
“Finding the right people was key,” she recalls. “It’s not just about being technically skilled. You need people who are truly compassionate and dedicated to the children and families. We were very particular about building a team who shared the same values and vision for what High Hopes could be.”
Raising awareness about early intervention was another challenge. When the pediatric center first opened its doors, many families didn’t fully understand the importance of starting therapy early. As Lynn explains, “Early intervention is so crucial, but parents didn’t always realize how much of a difference it could make in a child’s life. We had to educate them, empower them to seek help sooner rather than later.”
Despite these challenges, High Hopes found a way to make an impact in the community. Lynn credits the support from the UAE healthcare system and local families for helping to overcome many of the hurdles that came with starting a new initiative. “The leadership and government of the UAE has created an extremely supportive environment for children like Alia and their families, and the whole community has been incredibly supportive. We are so grateful for how welcoming and understanding people have been.”
Inspiring Success Stories
The impact of High Hopes is evident in the success stories of the children and families who have walked through its doors. One such story is that of Théo, a little boy diagnosed with neonatal epilepsy just two days after birth. His parents were initially told to expect developmental delays, but after coming to the pediatric center they saw miraculous progress.
“Théo’s story is one that stays with me,” Lynn says. “In less than four sessions, he was sitting up with minimal support, and his torticollis was completely gone. To see such dramatic improvement in such a short amount of time was incredibly fulfilling for all of us.”
Another inspiring success story is that of Gaia, a baby born with a clubfoot. Her parents, unsure of what the future held, placed their trust in High Hopes when Gaia was just 2.5 weeks old. Through a combination of in-center therapy and at-home exercises, Gaia made remarkable progress. By five months old, it was as though she had never faced any challenges at all.
“These stories are the heart of what we do,” she says. “We believe in the power of hope, care, and dedication. Every family that walks through our doors is a part of our journey, and their successes are ours to celebrate.”
The Future of High Hopes
As High Hopes looks ahead, Lynn is focused on growth and expansion. Over the next five years, the center plans to increase its reach by offering more advanced technologies, broadening its services, and continuing to collaborate with global institutions to stay at the forefront of pediatric therapy.
“We’re excited about the future,” she says. “There’s so much more we can do for these children and families. We want to keep evolving, expanding our reach, and incorporating new technologies that can help our kids progress even faster and more effectively.”
But even as High Hopes grows, one thing will always remain at the core: the commitment to providing a loving, supportive environment where every family can feel empowered and hopeful about their child’s future.
A Message to Aspiring Women in Healthcare
For other women in the Arab world who aspire to make a difference in healthcare and social services, Lynn has a simple yet powerful message: “Believe in your vision, take action, and don’t let fear hold you back. The journey is never easy, but surround yourself with people who believe in you, trust your instincts, and remember that even the smallest steps forward can make a huge impact. If you see a need that isn’t being met, be bold enough to fill it. Every challenge is an opportunity to grow, and the work you do will touch lives in ways you never imagined.”
Lynn’s journey, from a mother facing an overwhelming diagnosis to the founder of a transformative pediatric therapy center, is a testament to the power of resilience, compassion, and vision. Through High Hopes she hopes that support systems will help children and families succeed regardless of their diverse difficulties.
