So, Jessie's OT said that she thinks that Jessie is holding back and has potential to do much more, and sure enough, the little rascal has been holding out on us. Time to turn up the Therapy.
Happy Thanksgiving to All ! Count your blessings, and never forget about all the things that you have to be thankful for.
Jessie is really improving on her bike riding! I'm amazed as she becomes more daring and riding with more control. We are almost to the point of removing the handle on the back. Frankly, we don't need it anymore, but Mom isn't ready for it to go yet. She still can't mount the bike on her own, but it is just a matter of time. Go Jessie!!!
Now that Jessie has had some time to practice with the Walk Aid, electrical stimulation walking device, she is getting better. Notice that she is not wearing an AFO, and notice the dorsiflexion (sp?) that she is getting without an AFO to hold her foot up. This is all done throught he little device that she is wearing below her knee. It also appears to be reducing the hyper-extension of her left knee.
Here is a device that we are in trial now with Jessie. I'm not sure if is going to be a good device or not, but the concept is fascinating. It is called "Walk Aid" and is by Innovative Neurotronics. We are going to be doing a trial on it for 2 or 3 weeks and then buy one if it appears to be doing any good.
The way it works, is a little cuff fits around the leg, just below the knee. It send s a small electrical pulse to the nerve, that in turn triggers the muscle to cause the foot to dorsiflex. Because of this action, an AFO is not needed. In theory. The other really cool thing, is that it is supposed to teach the brain how to do this...not just do the work. I tend to be very skeptical about devices like this, but we're keeping an open mind, and I'll be sure to report back.
One downside, is that this puppy runs about $4,500, and we're not sure whether insurance will pay or not. If I knew for sure that it would work, no problem with the money, but when you think that it may just be another product praying on the hopefullness of parents of a child with a brain injury...well then the price tag is a bit harder to digest. I feel certain that we will buy it regardless.
Or watch Jessie below. Notice carefully that it is indeed causing her to dorsiflex. She is walking rather funny here, but she is just getting used to it. She doesn't walk like this all the time when she is wearing it.
Mail: Jessie Hall c/o The Hemispherectomy Foundation
P.O.Box 1239
Aledo, TX 76008
Jessie is 6 years-old and in 1st Grade. She has 3 brothers, Matt(10), Jake(8) and Josh(8). She loves people, and never met a stranger. She loves to laugh and sing and play. Jessie was diagnosed with Rasmussen's Encephalitis(RE), which is a rare brain disease that usually attacks healthy children about her age. The only known treatment for this cruel disease is a hemispherectomy (surgical removal of one-half of the brain)
This is an account of Jessie's confrontation with RE and her families attempts to navigate through a new world to bring her the best care possible. Surgery was on June 11, 2008.
This Blog is an attempt to help people undertand this disease and surgery, and to help others with kids going through it to find comfort and resource from someone who has been there before.
Read from bottom, up. It will be updated continuously through Jessie's Miraculous Recovery.
**To add Comments, just click "Comments".Or, email Jessie at Jessie@Hallzoo.com.
