Bootcamp: Day 8
"Nothing is impossible." Dr. Svetlana Masgutova. These were her words to Levi at the honoring ceremony. Levi received a medal at the completion of his 8 day Bootcamp. We were so thrilled that his "Sargent" was the one to personally honor Levi, congratulating him on his accomplishment and wishing Levi the best with continued health and growth.
At the ceremony honoring all of the children who had completed the full 8-day conference or the final 4-days of the conferences, parents spoke about the profound changes they have witnessed in their children. Here are some of the responses:
** A teenager, who had never cried before, was able to fully cry during one of the sessions and later comment to their mom how good it felt.
** A young child who started at 4 months behind developmentally was now only 1 month behind, after just 4 days of conference.
** A child with a brain injury, who had just begun to walk before the conference, was now able to run.
** A child who before the conference would chew then spit out food at mealtime, now was able to chew and swallow food. This started after 1 1/2 days, by 4 days the child had eaten 1/4 cup of food.
** A child was now able to sit up by herself and use proper head control.
** A child developed evident muscle tone in their legs, increased range of motion, and was now able to crawl.
** A child whose feet were gripped with spasticity now had softness and range of motion in their feet
My answer for Levi:
** Significant increased freedom in his body. This has allowed for
+++ more purposeful movement
+++ dramatic decrease in the need for supplemental oxygen
+++ significant reduction in his upper airway congestion
+++ an ability to sit up on his own (see below!)
One of the unexpected surprises on Day 8 was Levi's ability to sit up on his own. In the above photo the chair is positioned in a more upright position (usually he is in a reclined position because of limited hip flexion). With all of the improvements in his hip flexion during Bootcamp, we were advised to move Levi's chair into this position. We made this change on Day 6.
Then on Day 8, Levi decides he wants to sit up fully on his own!! Check out the distance between his back and the chair. Incredible!
He started sitting up on his own at lunch time and repeated this every time he was moved into his stroller chair throughout the day. He also maintained sitting on his own when the stroller was being moved.
I was absolutely stunned.
At the end of the day he lost his balance while sitting, which caused him to tip back into the chair. Immediately he flexed his core abdominal muscled, tucked his chin into his chest, and did a circle crunch to move his body forward into this seated position.
"What in the world....?" I thought to myself.
Just at that moment, Levi lost his balance again and fell back into the chair.
Without missing a beat, Levi repeated the circle crunch (aka hands pulling reflex).
Starting with engaging his core abdominal muscles, then tucking his chin into his chest, and circling up and around to sitting.
This time Levi found his balance point and was sitting up freely on his own again. The above photo was taken just after he found his balance again. I love that he is looking at me while I'm taking the photo.
We are so very thankful for all of your prayers and encouragement during this very intensive 8-day Bootcamp experience.
Thank you for being an active part of Levi's growth and success!
Levi and I were gone from the house for 11 hours/day, immersed in an intensive therapy environment. He received 6 hours/day of one-on-one MNRI therapy plus 6 additional sessions with Dr. Masgutova and Pamela Curlee. In the evenings we participated in 5 parent training sessions, plus a training session for the Core Specialists.
We were overwhelmed by the love, compassion, commitment, and excellence from Dr. Masgutova, Pamela Curlee, and all of the Core Specialists we worked with.
It was a joy to meet and connect with so many families while witnessing and celebrating transformations in their children.
What's Next?
Rest
Levi's brain needs time to absorb and process all of the work he as been doing at Bootcamp. For 12 days we will be taking a break from his MNRI therapies. After which, Nkuku and his home team will be back to work with his updated home program. Levi will then return to seeing his local MNRI Specialists who will continue to do advanced level work with him throughout the year.
Prayer
We invite you to continue to pray for Levi. Here are some upcoming needs:
**During the 12 days of rest, for his brain to fully absorb and process all he has learned
**For us as family and care givers to make thoughtful changes in how we relate to Levi. As he grows and changes, so too must we change to support him in new ways.
**For Nkuku and the home team to gain confidence with Levi's new home therapy plan as they work to implement it daily.
** On Tues, July 5th Levi will have surgery to place tubes in his ears. He has a considerable amount of fluid build up in his ears that is impacting his hearing and comfort. This is a short procedure that requires light sedation. Sedation (of any kind) is a very serious concern for Levi and we have taken the decision to do this procedure with much prayer and hesitation. He has had this surgery on two previous times and both have gone without issues. We need prayer for this to happen again. And for none of the improvements from Bootcamp to be lost.
** For a time of rest and refreshing with our family at Faith's Lodge. We are so thrilled to be returning again this summer.
** Please continue to pray for Dr. Masgutova, her family, and the MNRI family as they grieve the loss of her son. May the Lord continue to give them strength, peace, and provide the support needed as their hearts cherish his work and memories.
For more information about MNRI, upcoming conferences, trainings, or to find a Specialist near you: MasgutovaMethod.com
