Flossmoor introduced Perception Plus Imaging Services LLC and its founder and owner Yolanda Petty to the community on Feb. 10 with a ribbon cutting ceremony. 

Perception Plus opened its doors in Shops on Sterling to the community. Petty provides sonography and ultrasound services. 

Walking into the establishment, patrons can expect to be welcomed by warm light blue walls, homely decorations and an arrangement of stuffed animals lining the shelves on the wall, making a comfortable, safe environment at first the step. 

“It makes me happy to see families happy and it gives families a bonding experience,” Petty said. “You’d be surprised at the things you see while you’re in here.” 

Petty is a Chicago native raised on the Southside. She attended St. Ethelreda Grammar School and Mother McAuley Liberal Arts High School, she said.  

Colleges Petty attended include Illinois State University, Wilbur Wright College of Radiography and Ultrasonography and Florida Hospital College of Health Science, according to her LinkedIn.

She studied a range of things in diagnostic medical imaging, including radiologic technology and ultrasonography. She is a radiologic technologist and a registered diagnostic cardiac and medical sonographer. 

Petty moved to Homewood this year after being in Kentucky for the last 23 years. 

“I did X-ray first, so I’m a radiographer. I actually found that through looking through the yellow pages,” Petty said. “After I graduated, I didn’t really know what I wanted to do.” 

The yellow pages are directory books with numbers and other various contact information for businesses and organizations mostly popular in the 20th century and early 21st century. 

Petty said after going back and forth between her options she found radiography school. 

“I ended up going to X-ray school, graduated from there, and then went to ultrasound school,” Petty said. “Ultrasound was introduced to me while I was in X-ray [school].” 

Having a long-time passion for imaging and pictures, Petty said she felt drawn to working in ultrasound services. 

“Even in high school, I took a lot of photography. I took photography in college as well,” Petty said. “This is just another form of photography. I get to see on the inside.” 

In Kentucky, Petty did mobile ultrasounds, taking her equipment to specific doctor’s offices and providing her services, she said. 

“I provided concierge services for patients … and they were really comfortable with it because they get to go to their doctor’s office,” Petty said. “I get to meet them there, I do their tests, and they know their results before they leave.” 

Petty said she still gets calls for her mobile service to this day but plans to focus on her new business wanting to step away from something more physical for her day to day.

While looking for a pair of shoes for her son, Petty came across her current location, she said. 

“This felt like a very warm area that was close to where I live,” Petty said. “Flossmoor has a nice personal touch to it. It’s almost like where we came from in Kentucky.” 

Petty said she felt Homewood was already very busy and enjoyed Flossmoor’s small-town environment while being close to a big city. 

The highlight of Petty’s services is the personal experience provided, she said. Clients can record their baby’s heartbeat and put it in a stuffed animal of their choice as a keepsake along with the pictures and video captured. 

“A lot of times with the first trimester you’re more interested in the heartbeat. Second trimester, they’re mostly interested in the gender of the baby,” Petty said. “By the time you get to the third semester, they’re interested in hair, dimples and things genetic family-wise.” 

The bonding experience Petty can provide to families is one of her main drives, she said.  

“You may get a couple that maybe the boyfriend doesn’t really believe it and then he comes in and he sees it,” Petty said. “You can see the attitude change. You can see it.” 

Children come in not believing their mothers are pregnant and get to experience their future sibling’s heartbeat, Petty said. 

“When you look towards the future, the future are the kids,” Petty said. “Well, where are they? We need to celebrate, and we need to start celebrating from day one, right now.” 

Perception Plus Imaging Services is open to the public with appointments available on the website. More up to date information can be found on the business’s Facebook page.