Saturday, May 26, 2001

Just two years ago, three therapists came together to form

Key Rehab Associates in Natchez.

Since then, the business has grown so much that it moved to

a larger location next to Natchez Community Hospital last month.

&uot;We never thought when we opened up that we would need

a new building this soon,&uot; said Cathy Roboski, an occupational

therapist.

Roboski, Missi Cranston and Maria Smilo offer occupational,

physical and speech therapy for people of all ages at their business.

&uot;We see patients from birth into their 80s and 90s,&uot;

Smilo said.

Their new location offers patients more lobby space, extra

equipment and more treatment space for both children and adults.

For example, &uot;we were literally waiting on mat space,&uot;

prior to the move, Roboski said.

But in the new location the business has room for an extra

mat and other new equipment such as a set of parallel bars.

&uot;We were just growing so fast the (former location) didn’t

accommodate what we needed and what our patients needed,&uot;

said Smilo, who is a speech language pathologist.

As part of the building’s renovation, what was once an attic

was also turned into office space and a pediatric wing.

The new location has made the business &uot;more convenient

and it’s a more patient-friendly environment,&uot; Roboski said.

The group attributes their success to their approach to therapy.

&uot;We’re not businesspeople that do therapy. We’re therapists

that do what we love to do,&uot; Roboski said. &uot;When you

love what you do it can’t help but grow.&uot;

The business treats everything from sports injures to neurological

injuries. It also includes an assortment of swings in its pediatric

gym to use with sensory integration therapy.

The therapy helps children with such things as balance and

attention, Roboski said. Cranston, Roboski and Smilo first opened

their business in April 1999. At their new location it has doubled

in size to about 5,000 sq. feet. They also added three new people

to the staff bringing the total to nine with plans to add a tenth.

&uot;We had a dream and went for it and it has been wonderful,&uot;

Roboski said.

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