It has been four days since Lucas has completed his intensive 3 day therapy sessions with Sonia Aragon, a certified Anat Baniel method practitioner (above is a picture of Sonia at her studio). I wasn't sure what outcome to expect-would he start to walk? talk? It really is putting a lot of faith and expectations on a method to give such miraculous results after just three days, but followers of the method said "miraculous" results would be found after just a few treatments. Well, I am not sure if what I have noticed in Lucas these few days are "miraculous", but there definitely does seem to be a shift in him for the better in the areas of attention and movement.
After the first day of therapy, Luki took a three hour nap! He has not taken a three hour nap since his infancy. The therapy involved very gentle touch and he was not required to do any strenuous, active movements so physical exhaustion doesn't seem to be the reason for his tiredness. I thought that maybe the touch and massage relaxed him so much that he was lulled into sleeping for so long but he didn't fall asleep until a good 3 to 4 hours after the session. He did take a quick nap in the car on our way home. According to Sonia, it is very common for children to get very tired and hungry due to the brain processing so much neuromuscular information. Millions of cell to cell synaptic connections are made and the nap may help for the brain to process all the information. I remember in college that I would get very hungry and tired when I was learning a lot of new information for a challenging course, so I see merit in this rationale. The second day, Lucas slept for 1 1/2 hours which is common for him when he gets very tired. The third day, we did one session and decided to use the last session as a follow up in two weeks.
Between the time before our next session, I am monitoring Luki and seeing if there are any new milestones. Today, during speech therapy class, I did notice a much improved attention and physical strength (see video above). Luki hoisted himself up on a table and lifted his legs up in the air in a prone position. This showed that his trunk and torso strength has gotten much better. He even hoisted himself onto his stroller. Also, when the therapist and I started to sing his favorite song, Twinkle, Twinkle, his face lit up and he stopped what he was doing to listen. Once we completed the song, he went back to playing and crawling about. So, this shows he has recognition of his song and also has anticipation of when the song ends! I always knew he was registering a lot more of what was going on around him, but today, it was so much more evident and recognizable. He also seems to know that bowls carry food or snack inside. We gave Luki a Tupperware bowl with different wooden shapes inside and he must have thought the shapes were cookies because he put them to his mouth as if he wanted to eat them! I was so happy on my way home today after therapy. I had never seen such progress directly. It is due to the Baniel therapy, coincidence or the combination of all his therapies which are are really helping him.
At home, Luki is much more mobile (video above). Rather than have him limited to the play area in the living room or his playpen, I have him crawl up the stairs, hallway, kitchen, bathroom and wherever his little heart wants to go. He has become such a good crawler and his endurance is so much better. I have him back on creatine which may be helping his muscle tone. And, he has so much more curiosity of his surroundings.
This is Luki after his PT session. He has his spio vest and the AFO braces on. Also, his new mode of transportation is his baby shopping cart. We use it for his walking exercises during PT and I give him a ride to the car on it. So cute!
In concluding, I would say I am very happy to have taken Luki for the Baniel therapy and I plan to continue more sessions with Sonia in the future. Perhaps, once or twice a month or what our budget would allow. If nothing else, Luki likes the sessions and the gentle massages seem to relax him. If he is happy, then I am happier! :)
Just look how happy Luki is playing in water during his ABA session today with Ms. Zoe.
And look who is eating noodles now!
And look who is eating noodles now!
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