The brain is so fascinating. I wish I had the intelligence and patience to study neurology, not to mention be younger so I could have more time to learn about our complex brains.I have read a book on neuroplasticity & got headaches sometimes after reading a chapter because it forced me to think harder than I usually do.(Yea, I'm admitting I don't think hard often. =)) I firmly believe that the brain can rewire itself after a stroke or brain injury.This month at UVA,we are trying to help prove this.
While waiting for our first OT session on Monday, we waited in the lobby as usual. There is a really neat "Play Zone" in the waiting area where this sweet lady named Patty sits and plays with the kids. They have a great set up! Frankie was playing outside the play zone with these big cubes on the wall that turn. There was another little girl about the same age that walked up and started playing with the cubes right next to her. Next thing you know, the girl turned the cube that she was playing with.Frankie asked her, "Do you want to play?" And the little girl said, "YES!" Frankie takes her casted arm and wraps it around the girl to hug her and guide her as they walked together toward the play zone. Then, Frankie looked at the girl and patted her back and said,"Ok, go play!" Frankie turned around and walked away...she was headed back to the cubes on the wall.I happened to be talking to my sister, Carissa on the phone and telling her second my second what was going on. I can't tell you how hard we laughed, even though I felt sorry for the other little girl that got tricked into walking to the play zone to play solo.But hey, Frankie's strategy worked!
This was Frankie later that day in the play zone. She was so determined to play with legos and did so using her right hand.
We had an awesome OT session with Ms Ruth on Monday, with the cast on.I thought it was going to be taken off that morning, but was asked if it could stay on another day. What's one more day? It made sense to leave it on. We had to take advantage of the fact that little Miss Frankie was tolerating it well.
During thera-play, we tried to get Frankie to grab a ball with her right hand open, rather than it being fisted. She was doing a great job!She still needs to be prompted sometimes to open it because it's much easier to keep it closed. After all, some of those neural pathways that connect the brain to her right side are in need to be re-routed which is why we continue to stimulate the right side. During our session, we got on a swing...one of Frankie's favorite pastimes. We tried to keep the right hand gripped on the rope for an extended period of time with ESTIM. We succeeded.
Tuesday rolled around and we started the day with Speech Therapy. We worked on moving the toungue to the right side, making the "L" sound INSIDE the mouth and forming sentences.Ms Sherri knows how to make Frankie laugh so we did a lot of that during our session. Laughing itself is awesome therapy!
Before long, it was time for OT and to have the cast removed permanently. The cast was soon off and Frankie was so happy to see her left hand/arm! She looked at her hand as if it was the best gift she had ever received.
For the next two hours,we focused on bimanual activities. Putting a shirt on, taking socks off, getting on a swing with BOTH hands on the rope, etc...We also did some weight bearing on the right arm/hand by side sitting. This helps strengthen the wrist and arm, which is what our main focus has been these past few weeks. I was reminded that I have to constantly give Frankie's right hand a job. In other words, get her hand to hold a bag while she's taking something out of it, or a job as simple as holding an object.
Our last day was bittersweet. We started off by having our Physical Therapy session. We walked outside with Miss Emily, climbed on rocks and tried to see if Frankie could balance walking on a narrow wall made of stone.I get SO nervous watching her walk on things like this alone. I see 2 years olds doing it easily and think...WOW! AMAZING! My jaw still drops seeing one year olds walk. It's hard to imagine children going through milestones at a "normal" pace,for lack of a better word since all we know is our own pace...delayed & hard working. After having fun outside, we put Frankie on the thinking belt, AKA the treadmill to try to gain consistency with her stride.She loved it!
Below is a picture with Sue and Ruth, our OT angels at UVA. Frankie and I were sad to part with them, as you can clearly see.She dove in for her smooches and hugs though after this picture was taken, trust me!
Four weeks ago,I couldn't imagine Frankie wearing her constraint cast for a full hour.She wore it well for 23 days, that's 552 hours.The last time I've seen her have this much strength was right after she was born in the NICU.I truly believe she knows in her heart that casting & ESTIM are going to help her.She trusts her caregivers that are working so hard with her.
There are so many wonderful,beautiful people in this world that care and that are willing to lend a hand. Or wait,NOT lend a hand which is what one of our main purposes was going into this program. There's been a lot of tough love! Not only have we made lifelong friends with our therapy staff, we made friends with hotel employees, local restaurant waiters, etc..I want to thank Sue, Ruth, Emily, Sherri,Dr. Roberta, Jill & Katherine...our therapy team, for putting up with us.There are many other people in our village that deserve endless gratitude.Um, Danielle Bischoff? Thank you for being such a great friend and helping to pave our way to make this happen. The world needs more people like you all.
I'm ending with a quote many of you know that I read every day/night while in Charlottesville.I wanted to share.
"The moment where you doubt whether you can fly, you cease for ever being able to do it." Peter Pan
