Bootcamp: Days 4 & 5
"The human body is a precious gift." Pamela Curlee, co-founder SMEI*, comments while working on Levi during day 4. Clearly, Levi agrees.
Levi completed Day 4 on Sunday, enjoyed a day of rest (from Bootcamp) on Monday and was back to work on Tuesday with Day 5. The therapy schedule is organized into 4-day blocks, which means Levi's daily schedule changed on Day 5. This allows him to see a wide range of Specialists and experience different rhythms of how the therapies are organized.
Many families come for four days. We have met several new friends and reunited with friends we met last year. It is so wonderful to connect with other families and witness the transformations in their children.
On day 4 there is a celebration honoring the children who complete the 4 day program. During this time parents have an opportunity to share something meaningful they have seen transform in their child as a result of the 4-day program.
Here are three of the transformations:
** A boy who had been experiencing 3 absent seizures per hour was only having 3 in a full 24 hours.
**A girl's swallow coordination and eating by mouth had dramatically improved.
**A man in his 20s whose left arm had been locked into his chest, due to spasticity, was able to open his shoulder and elbow enough to reach out and hug his mom when she picked him up. Just as we were all praising him for this change (as if on cue) he reached out his left arm and smiled big!
We have continued to see some magnificent progress with Levi throughout this year's Bootcamp. It is just astounding how resourceful our bodies and brains are. Reflexes are primary and fundamental to all kinds of development. MNRI is providing Levi's brain with specific neurological inputs that are producing so many exciting changes in Levi's body. We know these changes are lasting because his neurology is being impacted.
Days 4 & 5 included two more sessions in the pool, yeah!
Usually Levi's legs are not able to move or be moved due to significant spasticity (muscle tightness). With the repeated and advanced level reflex work, Levi brain is receiving signals that is allowing it to release the spasticity, which is allowing his joints to experience movement.
Hips, knees, ankles are all able to be moved with ease and comfort. His body is happily responding and greatly enjoying the sensations of experiencing movement in his legs. Levi's range of motion is increasing daily. We are seeing so much more flexion (bending) in the knees and hips that ever before.
His hands and finger are experiencing the same release from the tight spasticity.
"Hello Friends"
After MNRI in the pool Levi's eyes are bright, his elbows are soft, fingers open, mouth is soft, knees are bent, and he is more comfortable sitting upright.
There is a nice balance of hard work and resting work throughout each day. Time to grow and learn, time to integrate and synthesize.
Levi was able to have a second hands-on session with Pamela Curlee on Day 4 and Dr. Masgutova on Day 5. These sessions are in collaboration with another Specialist and the combined work provides his brain with some incredible information about what is possible with his body.
Before one of these sessions Levi's heart rate was high, as a result of an earlier vigorous workout. It was high enough that I was questioning if he needed a dose of Tylenol. By the end of the double-session, which focused on releasing stress hormones (Adrenalin and Cortisone) his heart rate was back down to normal and he was in a complete state of peace. Incredible! No medications were needed.
Ooooo and two more sessions with Levi's bootcamp "sargent" have continued to produce some incredible results. In the above sequence Levi is again working on the hands pulling reflex (aka circle crunches) to both the right and left side.
The movement response we are looking for is Levi tucking his chin to his chest while being guided up to sitting with the activation of this reflex. On Days 1&2 there was no chin tucking. On day 3 a little bit near the end of the circle (top of the crunch). On day 4 (above) he was starting to tuck his chin in the 2nd photo, which is so much sooner than ever before.
You can see by the look in his eyes and puckering of his mouth that this is really hard work!!
On day 5 Levi was challenged to engage his hands supporting reflex through guided push ups.
Go Levi go!
Thank you for your continued prayers and encouragement. We are so thankful for your joining us in this journey.
SMEI = Svetlana Masgutova Educational Institute
