It's almost time to leave...

What if there was a cure... For Cerebral Palsy, for Autism, for ADHD? What if someone knew the secret formula to get a child who has been diagnosed with quadriplegic cerebral palsy walk, talk, and become completely independent. What if someone knew how to improve the symptoms of autism so much that a child reaches a point when they are no longer diagnosed with Autism. What if I believed that someone does exist, now. That someone, together with and a group of trained specialists in her practice, has done so much for Sophie in so little time. As if she used some kind of magic, Sophie's left hand woke up! She now uses her left hand consistently and even brings it to her mouth, we are joking that she might be a lefty :) Sophie is all of a sudden speaking words such as apple and flower and is communicating in a way she had never done before. Sophie's curiousity about the world has grown so much more as she is more mobile with and is moving her back and shoulders in very much coordinated ways. Although we did not yet reach a milestone, Sophie has come a long way and she is a different baby than she was last week. Tomorrow is our last day in San Rafael, with Anat Baniel and what an experience this has been. THANK YOU for being there for Sophie, and following her journey. I know that she will walk because she is a determined little girl and YES, there is a cure!
www.anatbanielmethod.com  
Please note: I am expressing my own, personal opinion based on my own research and experience. I am not being paid by anyone or any organization to write this post.

Our trip to the Anat Baniel method center- the details.

In an effort to help those doing research and trying to find before and after stories, and results with ABM, I will write all about our first trip to ABM on this post.
The trip from Florida to San Rafael, CA was entirely funded with the help of FAMILY, FRIENDS, AND LOVING HEARTS.
- The 2 plane trip took a whole day about 12 hrs total. Ft. Lauderdale to San Francisco. layover in Atlanta,  GA.
- Sophie did really well until about an hour before we landed at SFO. She had been constipated,  as it is usual for 3 days and was crying in pain for the last hour of the plane ride.
-Status, milestones before Anat Baniel: 20 months old.
Diagnosis: Spastic Ataxic quad or diplegia (received both diagnosis),  dysphagia.
Hands: Sophie forgets that she has a left hand and just keeps it fisted 90 percent of the time without using it. She does use her right hand a lot more and with better efficiency.
Legs: high tone. Doesn't crawl, or walk, or stand.
Trunk: low tone. Unable to sit independently and loses balance of her upper body easily. Unable to toll over either way. She has rolled over, on her own, twice in her life.
Great head control.
Verbal: speaks up to 5 words almost perfectly.  Mimics sounds. She is very bright and very social, loves to smile and say hello to everyone.
Eating: unable to swallow solids. Her diet is 100 percent liquids only.
- ABM- Begin Day one: am and pm lessons

DAY ONE SUMMARY: The results so far: Impressive.  Sophie lifted up her shoulders high up ftom the table and held her shoulders up using her arms.
Truly amazing. I had to hold in my tears a few times as I couldn't believe how strong and coordinated Sophie was. Unfortunately Sophie has pink eye (conjuntuvitis) in both eyes and infection in her ears. After seeing so much discharge coming from her eyes before her second lesson, we had to quickly find an urgent care facility to get her treated. She still did great at ABM. Hopefully she will feel better tomorrow. She is on antibiotics right now.

DAY TWO SUMMARY: Sophie is better from pink eye infection and seems to be having some ear pain. Sophie had a great day today. It was not as impressive as yesterday because she seemed to be quite tired but, Great, nevertheless. About 15 minutes into the afternoon session, she grabbed a toy phone with her right hand, and then something MAGIC happened, Sophie opened her left hand and using her index finger began pushing the tiny buttons, one at a time using just her pointy finger. That was a WOW moment. She has since then continued to use that hand, it is as if she finally realized that she has a left hand. Tomorrow we will see Anat and I will be ready to take lots of pictures and videos! Have an amazing night!

DAY THREE SUMMARY: Sophie saw Anat today for one hour at a cost of $500. We also saw another AMAZING senior practitioner for $200/ 45 minutes, his name is Neil. Anat is very nice, very well educated, and has a great sense of humor. I must say that this group of praticioners at Anat Baniel Method, San Rafael take great consideration in the needs of the child. Based on our experience, they do not do anything that makes the child upset, this is not to say that the child is not challenged but they listen to what the child wants, needs, and they make sure that the child is comfortable. The environment is extremely positive. At all times, I felt that Sophie was learning something new. There were many wow moments. Very slight changes that only I can notice because I see her movements, and lack of movement, all day, every day. Sophie looked comfortable and happy.

DAY FOUR SUMMARY: We saw Anat again today for 30 minutes and a $300 charge. We also saw another Senior practitioner in the morning, his is great. His name is Chris, for a charge of $200 for 45 minutes, Developments: Sophie is remakably more vocal. She says several new words such as "apple", "flower", and no. She communicated when she needs something and answers back in a way that I cannot believe. Sophie recognizes that she has a left hand and uses it very consistently. She loves her left hand now, brings it to her mouth and just spends a lot of time staring at it.

To accept or to not to accept? That is the question.

The moment that Sophie received a diagnosis cerebral palsy with spastic ataxic diplegia, I didn't fully understand what the future would hold. I was told that Sophie would never be "normal" and that she would probably walk around the age of 7, but not the way "normal" people walk.I didn't fully understand how, why, what was going to happen in her future. I chose to accept the diagnosis and go on... As I began to realize the missing pieces (milestones) I began to understand why she was different.  I was open about her diagnosis with family and friends from the beggining because we needed the support. I began to receive lots of suggestions and advice as it is natural for our loved ones to try to help. I got lots of suggestions about how we can bring healing to Sophie through spiritual means, I chose to believe that if God had any intention of healing her, he would do so himself.  I looked a little deeper and thought if this is happening its because there is something to learn from it and it will not go away so easily. I chose to accept.  While I accepted I also didn't give up on possibilities. So did I really accept? Here I am hours upon hours,  miles upon miles, all across the country, away from home, looking forward to what tomorrow's visit to an alternative option to therapy will bring.  Hoping to see a miracle. Hoping that it will make a dramatic change on my child who is 20 months old but has the physical abilities of a 3 month old baby. So did I really accept her as she is? Yes I did, I am accepting that she is a child who deserves to reach her full potential, no matter what that is and I will fight for her, and with her, for as long as she needs me or wants me to. I will accept and embrace her for what she can do and not what she cannot. I will continue to give her the opportunity to get better at whatever she does and never give up, because that I would do for my typically developing child... and I will do the same for her. So my goal is not to make her "normal" my goal is that she reaches her full potential,  whatever that may be.  My goal is that she loves life and enjoys every minute of it, no matter what her abilities or disabilities may be. In the end, isn't that what all parents want for their children?