I contracted Meningitis my 3rd week in NICU (Meningitis-inflammation of the meninges caused by viral or bacterial infection and marked by intense headache and fever, sensitivity to light, and muscular rigidity, leading (in severe cases) to convulsions, delirium, and death) . Fought that like a Champ. Started gaining weight quickly and on the 6th week in NICU I was discharged. Came home in October 2011 and soon started to realize my head was getting larger and larger by the day. When i got the the doc she told mum and dad i had hydrocephalus (a condition in which fluid accumulates in the brain, typically in young children, enlarging the head and sometimes causing brain damage)
On December 2011 I had my 1st surgery. The Surgeons have to place a tube from my head into my stomach aka as a shunt. That was unsuccessful! February 2012 the 2nd surgery, once again unsuccessful. Finally Easter 2012 I had my successful surgery. Since then i have not had any other surgeries. I have been a patient at Children Developmental Center since January 2013. Where they have diagnosed me with CP. cerebral palsy (a condition marked by impaired muscle coordination (spastic paralysis) and/or other disabilities, typically caused by damage to the brain before or at birth). I have been working with my therapist every week sometimes twice a week. I'm getting stronger quickly. When i first began i could not raise my head. Now i pretty much have that down packed and now working on walking and Occupational Therapy so that i can feed myself, tie my shoes etc. With all of that being said Mum and Dad are looking for help funding my cost for the Intensive Therapy at Pediatric Therapy Associates of South Florida. Just a short description of Intensive Therapy and how i can benefit from it.
?What is intensive therapy? This is the child’s opportunity to go beyond the traditional approach of 30 minutes to, at most, a few hours of therapy a week. It is the chance for the child to get the practice and the boost that they need to move ahead. Specifically, intensive therapy is physical therapy, occupational therapy &/or speech therapy on a concentrated basis in order to meet the desired goals of the child and family. Children are treated 3-4 hours per day for a period of one to three weeks. Every child is unique and so treatment is tailored to the particular needs of each child. Parents are given an extensive report and home program instructions so that the work and progress may continue after the intensive program. Who will benefit? Any child to young adult with a neurologically based impairment including cerebral palsy, acquired brain injury, autism, Down syndrome, spina bifida, and other developmental diagnoses. TESTIMONIAL:
“My son Jake contracted meningitis at 7 days old. As a result of this, he has cerebral palsy. The doctors told us there wasn’t much hope for Jake- that he would have “profound neurological impairments”. When Jake started coming to PTA for intensive therapy, he did not have full head control. He is now 4.5 and starting to use a reverse walker. He has gone from barely being able to make a sound to now being able to approximate 75 words. Jake always makes measurable gains after an intensive at PTA. We continue to implement the strategies used during the intensives at home with our therapists so he can continue to make gains.” Michelle O’Rourke, Jake’s mom, Massachusetts
Thanks for reading my life struggle and THANKS in advance for helping Mum and Dad.
