Bootcamp: Day 1

I remember, I remember!!

Fifteen minutes into session 1, Levi's body was shouting these words with joy.

In this photo Levi is being assisted by two specialists who are working with him to do a butterfly-like movement, where the arms raise above the head, then open wide while circling back down to his legs.

He was participating and loving it!

Last year it took until Day 5 for his shoulders to be open and free enough to allow this movement to happen. This year: Day 1, session 1 -Wow!

This is a credit to the work Nkuku and Levi's care team have been doing all year at home.

Go Team!

Range of motion in Levi's hips is hard to come by.

This was one of the concerns we came to Bootcamp with last year.

How do we help Levi?

Dr. Masgutova adapted one of her leg reflex protocals to work within the challenges of Levi's left hip displasia (minor displasia overall, yet still displasia) in order to assist Levi with some initial, minimal and important progress with movement in Levi's hips.

We have gently and consistently worked this adapted leg reflex over the year, seeing slow consistent progress.

And then comes bootcamp this year... Just look at those photos!!

Tremendous progress with both hips and knees!

I half expected the flexion in the right hip to show up a few days into Bootcamp, yet here it is on Day 1.

The left hip however, that's astounding.

Levi showed no signs of pain or discomfort. Only happy happy eyes and body.

His hands opened up right away, this time into a relaxed High-5.

I learned some new reflex protocals for his feet and ankles, which brought about similar openness and range of motion as seen with the hands. I could hardly believe my eyes when his toes and ankles easily opened and welcomed movement.

After session 3 (above) Levi's oxygen saturation levels rose to 100 (best number possible) while his heart rate remained stable (a sign of no pain considering the workout he just had). An hour later his oxygen levels continued to be at 100 and I was able to take Levi off supplemental oxygen.

While at Bootcamp, Levi has the opportunity to participate in a research study that will help to bring critical evidence (medically speaking) regarding the importance of MNRI and the developmental changes that happen at Bootcamp. Before and after EEGs will show the changes in brain activity and will give evidence to the neurological impact of this important work.

Having been through several EEGs with Levi, I was very impressed at how simple, short, and clean of a process this was. Usually an EEG is an all-day affair with an extensive head-washing ordeal. Today the set up and recording took less than 30 minutes and I was able to finish the clean up with a quick hair washing before bedtime.

After a lunch break and some cuddle time with Mama. The following two sessions gave Levi an opportunity to rest and enjoy more two-on-one hands on work -his favorite. These low-key sessions are not to be underestimated. Critical foundational work is being done that supports the inner sense of safety needed in order to face bigger developmental challenges / growth.

Ooo then came more work. Pushing up through the arms to lift his head, ooo that can be so much work sometimes. Bootcamp is hard work Mama!

One of the reasons we come to Bootcamp is it gives us access to very high level Specialists within MNRI. Their knowledge, experiences and ability to apply the work to the unique needs of each child are rock-star level.

In Levi's last session of the day, he got to work with one of these Specialists.

I can honestly say I have never seen Levi engage in such a rigorous "workout" while staying present and engaged with the process and not needing to take long breaks. For a full hour Levi worked and worked. I could see it was a love-hate kind of a thing. He knew he was rising to some serious challenges, yet his biggest job was to keep breathing and relax into the work. (kind of reminds me of birthing :) To trust that this was going to help him get closer to his own goal of walking someday.

At times it took three sets of hands to help Levi do the work of repatterning and experience the fullness of each movement pattern.

I was so thankful for Kaiya's participation in this session, whom Levi works with consistently throughout the year. She helped Levi know that he was in a safe place where grown and risks are good things for our body to experience.

She also reminded me to breathe and exhale often. When you see you child reach beyond their (known) limits, it is easy to hold your breath unknowingly. The more I consciously exhaled, the more Levi released into the workout as well.