Alternative therapy

Last Friday I took Kaia to an alternative type of therapy. Another mom I know that has a kid with cerebral palsy was frustrated with the progress her son was making in traditional therapy and with the lack of creativity of the therapists. She researched other types of therapies and found one called the Anat Baniel Method, based on the work of Feldenkrais. More info at: http://www.anatbanielmethod.com/help-children-overview.htm There were no practitioners of this particular type of therapy in our city. The closest was in Chicago, a three hour drive away. So, desperate to try anything that might help her son, she drove him up to Chicago to do this alternative therapy. Thankfully her insurance is covering the cost (or at least part of it) of the therapy.

Being part of a group of moms with kids with movement issues, she and the practitioner decided to gauge interest by having the practitioner come to Indianapolis for a weekend and offer a free trial session to kids here. I jumped at the chance to give Kaia the opportunity to experience this alternative therapy free here in town.

I have to admit I was skeptical. Some of the tenets of the therapy I agree with partly, in principle. For instance, they advise no orthotics. We actually waited quite a while before finally getting orthotics for Kaia. My concern was that she would never strengthen her ankles, which pronate, if they were fixed in orthotics. I finally relented to the idea that if we give her that support, she would have an opportunity to strengthen the other muscles needed for walking by being able to have the stability to try it. The Anat Baniel practitioner (she’s not a licensed OT or PT) also advised us not to assist Kaia walking by holding one of her hands. The idea as I understand it (which may be completely wrong) is not to force a child to be more upright than they are ready to be. The woman, after having me remove Kaia’s shoes and orthotics, spent most of the time touching/stimulating Kaia’s feet in a sitting position. She also touched her back. She didn’t mind Kaia being in, and didn’t force her out of, a w-sit position.

I still don’t really completely understand the theory behind it. Perhaps she didn’t do a very good job explaining it or maybe I just didn’t listen well. The other mom’s kid and Kaia have the same physical therapist. This PT was there observing for the session (The other mom had scheduled the PT to be there to watch her son’s session and the PT stayed for Kaia’s upon my request). I could tell she was trying very hard to be respectful by asking questions regarding the how/why of what the woman was doing. I didn’t think the practitioner provided an adequate explanation to her either. There definitely was some tension in the air. It pretty much is the complete opposite of everything that we’ve been told by traditional therapy to do with Kaia.

Kaia is tactilely defensive and did an admirable job putting up with all the touching. But fairly quickly she started to push the woman away and started signing “all done” and “bye bye” to her. I felt a little guilty forcing Kaia to submit to this therapy and yet I force her to do things that she doesn’t necessarily want to do all the time because it’s good for her – changing her diaper, brushing her teeth, etc. Inwardly, I was elated to see Kaia communicating her desires, even if I couldn’t fulfill her request. Thankfully the woman discovered some quirky things Kaia likes. Kaia warmed up to her so much that by the end she was trying to kiss the practitioner.

Anyway, the upshot is that if the practitioner generates enough interest, we could bring Kaia for sessions with her when she comes to town for a cost of $95 per hour. It’s actually unusual for insurance to cover it. I told her I’d check with our insurance to see if they would cover it because otherwise we really couldn’t afford it.

That same evening we brought Kaia to the monthly parents night out program. When we picked her up, Paul took her by the hand to assist her to walk down the hall. Wouldn’t you know it, she pulled her hand away and walked - on her own - the entire length of the hallway. It was at least 25 feet. The only reason she stopped was because the hall ended. We’ve had these breakthroughs before but she will usually revert to crawling almost immediately. So I didn’t hold my breath that it would remain consistent. She definitely has been on the cusp of walking for a couple months now, though.

Saturday we took her swimming in the morning and shopping in the evening. She was off and on with the walking. On Sunday, we put her therapy shorts on her. They’re called hip helpers, are bright red spandex, and she looks like a little super hero wearing them. She took off on Sunday! She walked at least 50 feet continuously and even made a 45 degree turn on her own in the middle of that stretch. She’s kept at it; alternating between doing really well or not being as motivated when she’s tired and/or hungry.

But she really can and is walking! She still falls a lot and walks with a wide base of support (the shorts do help with that), but she can do it! She can also climb up on to the couch by herself now! (That started late last week). Even after coming down with a cold Monday morning, which has thrown her balance off in the past (one of her therapists attributed that to increased fluid in the ear, which is the center of balance), she has continued to persevere in attempting to walk this week.

She also made the “help” sign to me, independently, without any prompting, today. Holy cow, was I surprised. Then she did it again a few more times. She also has said “bubbles” and “more” a couple times this week. She just loves those bubbles.

So what do you all think? Do you think she was just ready, no matter what? Do you think it was the one alternative therapy session? Do you think it was the hippotherapy (she’s gone 3 times now)? Maybe it’s the confluence of it all.

I wish I knew, but in the end I guess it doesn’t really matter. I accepted long ago that all we can do is maximize Kaia’s environment and provide opportunities for her to progress. She’s going to do it in her own time. I’m constantly amazed by her perseverance and her abilities in spite of the incredible challenges that she faces.