Progress!
Let me share an e-mail that Annie's PT, Kim, sent me this week:
I just wanted to email you and let you know how AWESOME Annie did today in therapy. She was in such a great mood (as I’m sure you knew) and “talking” non-stop. Annie constantly wanted to move today, which I was able to use to my advantage to get her to do things. Even when I challenged her, she returned to being very happy as soon as I let her rest. She tolerated being on her tummy (over my legs) 6 times, with the longest lasting over 10 seconds. She wasn’t thrilled about it, but she wasn’t putting up the fight that I expected. I was also able to get her on her knees 5x’s, with the longest lasting also over 10 seconds (I was holding her in high kneel at the trunk). She sat in a tailor position (criss-cross) for up to 3 or 4 minutes with my hands just gently on her legs in case she tried to kick her legs out….which they didn’t. She was activating the bubble gum toy (pull a lever to get balls to come out like bubblegum) with only minimal assist to pull the handle down. She initiated pulling the handle down independently. Annie was also letting me take her hand and push the balls back into the bubble gum “machine.” It was such a great great session! Annie was standing up by herself (I had my hands on her and then provided her with balance once standing), and then we worked on turning and stepping to sit in a chair at a 90 degree angle. She did great – it’s easier for her to move to her right. We’ll keep work on this! I wish I had a video camera going the entire session so I could have shown you all of the things she did. She was enthralled with the mirror today as well….looking in it, talking to it and reaching out for it. I’m going to keep working on the prone over my legs as I think she feels more comfortable next to my body, plus she can turn over and sit up in my lap which always makes her calm. Anyway, just wanted to let you know….I thought you would enjoy hearing this!! I hope tomorrow is another super productive day!! Talk to you soon…
I DID enjoy hearing this, and I thought you would, too. Annie is so blessed to have Kim (and Amanda and Michelle and Moira and Sandy!) working with her each week.
Jean
"Then the lame shall leap like a deer, and the tongue of the mute shall sing...
...and the ransomed of the Lord shall return, and come to Zion with singing, with everlasting joy on their heads. They shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away." Isaiah 35:6, 10