Movement

Did I mention that my son’s teacher also went to that seminar and she was quite pleased with what she heard and learned? For me it was a very good refresher, after a long time, of what we’ve learned on the “What to do about your brain injured child course” in Philadelphia (back in 2004), but also an evoker of good feelings and motivation that IAHP courses always bring.

I remember that, before going to Philadelphia in 2004, all we heard from doctors was that brain is damaged and we can’t do much about it. It was left to be seen what would be the impact on the development of our son and we should always hope for the best, but be ready for disappointments that would come. Well, that approach can’t really uplift anyone, so I remember that we always did put our brave faces when talking to people and really hated them questioning or suggesting things, because there isn’t really much you can do about that “illness”. Or could you?

During the IAHP course (in 2004) we learned that there is a whole lot that we could do, and should do and that the brain is the most repairable organ in the body; that it has a gazillion of spare cells that could be retrained to take up the functionality of the cells that have died, so there is really no place for despair, but for organized and targeted effort that would restore the normal functionality of the brain. When we heard that there are people that function with a half of the brain (i.e. the other half was surgically removed) and when we saw kids that were paralyzed 2 years before and now they play violin or do gymnastic exercises on the floor, we were quite uplifted and determined to follow the program…

So, it was good to get into that same enthusiastic feeling again.  I think some of that enthusiasm can be now seen in the school as well. As I said, my son’s teacher went to the course and she also read the “What to do about your brain injured child” book and gave it to other parents to read. The other day we had a “review day” at school and I mentioned that I would like my son to be patterned while in school, and we agreed that we will do a one month trial to see how all of that would work in the school environment. I suggested that I’ll organize the volunteers, so here we are, if you wanna help, please contact me. We are planning to do patterning during the lunch break, from 12:45 to 1:45, so if you can spare some time (even once a week) and you live or work in the North Ryde area in Sydney (Australia) I would like to hear from you. The trial would last for a month, but I’m confident that we would continue with the technique, once a positive review is received. There was also a talk of doing pattering for other kids if the trial proves successful. If you can’t join us then make a prayer or two for us

Critical mass

There was  a seminar “What To Do About Your ‘Special Needs’ Child” on Sunday/Monday this week and I was invited (as a parent) to present Gabiel’s case (http://patterning.wordpress.com/case-studies/gabriel/).

Well, that was a first public occasion that this web site was mentioned and I also conveyed my intention to organize a group of volunteers to help parents. Actually, this invitation “forced” me to speed up with the creation of this site, because it was on my mind for a long time, but somehow I was always finding something else requiring my immediate attention.

Somebody at the seminar asked me if this is for business or is it a non-profit organization.  This is definitely not-for-profit initiative and I would describe it as a community of parents and friends that help each other (with no fees involved). I would also like to see more case studies (like Gabriel’s) that present the progress in the same format (i.e. through the progress chart), so if you would like to share your patterning story (in this format) please send it to me.

Somehow, my vision is also to promote the technique and get the recognition from science. With that the government support will follow and that’s what us (parents) need. At the seminar I heard that Norway is the first country to fully recognize and support the Doman Method (i.e. expenses are reimbursed through medical insurance) and some level of recognition also exists in Italy. I remember watching a documentary of a Norwegian girl (and her family) filmed over a span of several years (as they enrolled and were doing the IAHP Intensive Treatment Program) and how she progressed from just lying on the floor to walking independently in their family home backyard. The documentary was quite uplifting and I wonder if somebody could do a documentary with kids that we would go and volunteer with. All for the purpose of raising the awareness and critical mass.

However, through government support professionals will get into the field (like, for example, some people are already doing patterning – they call it differently – and are charging for it) and I don’t expect them to do it for free, but this site should not promote their businesses. The only exception would be perhaps the “Events/Service Page” where we could name these people if they are giving something for free. Don’t know, send me your ideas…  I would be more intent to create the “Equipment & Stuff Exchange” page to facilitate free exchange, borrowing (library) or giveaways between parents and community in general, and also perhaps the “Volunteer Handyman Directory” page listing people that would make required equipment for free (i.e. parents would pay for the materials needed).

Gabriel’s Case Study

Every blog has its roots, the reason why it had started, so does this one. To share the hope with the parents of brain-injured children that there is potentially a good technique, though not very accepted in the mainstream medical circles, which properly applied could effect great positive changes in their child as well as in their lives is the main reason why this blog (site) exists.

I just added my son’s story (look into http://patterning.wordpress.com/case-studies/gabriel/) which I consider to be a very good example of the effectiveness of the patterning technique (as described by the Doman Delacato method). That red line in the header image above, shooting up towards the goal of wellness, is my sons “ability curve” after we started the 14-months patterning effort (prior to that it was pretty much flat – he was stagnating in his development).

The performance of the technique was solely possible because a group of volunteers came to our house regularly, every day at first and then 6 days a week, spending 1 hour with us doing 4 sessions of patterning lasting 5 minutes each (with 10 minute breaks in between).  To highlight the excitement, amazement and fulfillment that we all felt as we witnessed the changes occurring, I would like to quote the words of my dear friend, who offered his help and organized the volunteers: “We are witnessing a miracle unfolding!” Amen to that.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank every person that came to our house and selflessly offered their help and friendship. God bless you guys!

Hello world!

This web site is primarily intended for two groups of people:

1) parents of brain-injured children seeking help with the patterning technique (according to the Doman Delacato method)

2) volunteers that would like to offer some of their time and provide help with the patterning technique.

If you are one of those please contact us.