Kevin's New Program (Spring/Summer 2010)

Nutrition Program
Kevin is to avoid most of the same foods; wheat, dairy, soy, corn, legumes, nuts, yeast, chocolate, sugars, and processed foods, most of which he has a true allergy to. Kevin experienced a severe allergy outbreak during our visit when his skin was accidentally exposed to some food crumbs that really made him miserable. We are hoping that this will also be healed after we clear his digestive problems first. We will be using a Food Combining program that helps kids with digestive system problems like constipation. This means that starchy carbohydrates (grains, potatoes, winter squash, etc) cannot be eaten with animal protein. But we are able to discontinue the rotation diet Kevin has been on for the last three years.

Physiological Program
• Passive Deep Breathing Program/ Reflex Bags – The purpose of this program is to increase blood flow to the brain thereby enriching the brain with nutrients and oxygen. This program is very similar to the “masking” that we were doing but significantly less frequent throughout the day.
• The Oxygen Enhancement Program/Carbogen Therapy – The purpose of this program is to increase blood flow to the brain thereby enriching the brain with nutrients and oxygen. This program is very similar to the “tank” that we were doing but the mixture is 95% Oxygen and 5% Carbon Dioxide.
• Hyperbaric Therapy Program – To increase partial pressure which increases oxygen uptake in the brain and body, improving overall brain and body function. Yes, we will need to purchase a Hyperbaric Oxygen Chamber for our house!!!

Intellectual Program
For the last four years our number one focus has been on Kevin’s mobility. Now that Kevin is walking our focus is changing to his Language and Intelligence. Our goal is for Kevin to begin to communicate with signs. We have also discovered some understanding barriers in Kevin’s intelligence. The 13,000 Bits of Intelligence that Kevin has seen and read have done their job. It has increased the growth of Kevin’s brain which helps all areas of his brain, and gives him the information he needs. But because Kevin does not use all this knowledge in daily life, we have to create ways for his brain to readily access all this information. Also, we will begin preparing Kevin for homeschooling by insisting upon a consistent response of pointing during testing.

Social/Emotional Program
Developing Self and Self Control – our goal is to get Kevin to imitate, interact, experiment, and play purposefully. So this means that we actually get to take time to play and interact with Kevin. WOW!!! And most importantly, for Kevin to accept boundaries for acceptable behavior. No more time outs but a new approach that seems to be a more effective way of helping him organize and learn appropriate and social behavior.

I know many of you were probably thinking these were areas we needed to work on with Kevin all along. But as we stated mobility was Kevin’s number one goal and now we will concentrate on these skills to help him get well.

Sensory Program
• Olfactory & Gustatory Sensory Integration Program – Presenting smells and tastes
• Auditory Training – To be comfortable in noisy situations, to not be upset by sounds and to not be easily distracted. To hear sounds at the appropriate volume. To hear all sounds well in daily life and speech.
• Sensation Level 2 – Create the ability to feel pain instantly, consistently, and with the full intensity all over the body.
• Sensation Level 3 – Create the ability to feel pleasurable and un-pleasurable sensation in the appropriate length of time consistently all over the body, with contrasting textures.

Physical Program
This is probably the biggest change to our lives as we have known it for the last four years. We are discontinuing patterning! Yes, friends and dedicated patterners…I said no more patterning (I personally had to repeat it out loud three times before it registered). I guess there could be a chance later but at this point no more patterns. AND no more ladders!

The Basic Brain Organization Program is to organize the lower levels of the brain in particular the Pons and Midbrain. It is also an important program to develop visual tracking, convergence, organization, focus, language, establish dominance and improve breathing. So this means is that we are going back to crawling (on belly) and creeping (on knees). We’ll be crawling up to a total of 200 meters a day and creeping up to a total of 1200 meters a day.

The Reflex Integration Program is to support the organization of the Medulla Oblongata and to pattern and integrate pathological and dysfunctional reflexes into higher level brain stages.

For instance, Kevin still has the Babinski reflex. This is found in babies when the toes flare up as the bottom of the foot is stroked. This response should disappear after they enter the crawling stage because when done correctly they use their toes to dig into the floor to push off. Kevin did not crawl completely correctly because he used his knees more than his toes, hence the need to repeat crawling with our help as we pattern in the toe dig. But fortunately, thanks to our patterners, he does crawl, creep, and walk in a cross pattern which is why we can discontinue the patterning.

You will notice that distance walking is not even a part of our program. Of course, as time permits during our day we will continue our walks outside, especially during the increasingly nice weather. Fortunately, we did have another big concern of ours addressed at FHC. Kevin (and even Karen) will be receiving orthotics to place in the shoes. Orthotics are not a brace but a shoe insert that will slowly help Kevin to walk correctly on his feet. Currently, Kevin turns his left foot in and he walks on his left toes. The inserts will help correct this.

Patterners & Volunteers
As I said, I had to repeat it three times that we were not to continue patterning Kevin. After realizing what this meant I felt sad that we would not have our friend’s daily visits anymore. We have been so blessed to have you in our lives to help us and encourage us along the way. I do not think we could have continued this long on the program without each of your contributions that you bring with you when you visit. We would still appreciate your help in a new way with some of Kevin’s new programs, if you are able and interested.

Thank You
Jon’s parents were Kevin’s caregivers at home while Jon and I were in Philadelphia at FHC for the seminar. Karen’s parents drove up to Cuyahoga Falls on Friday (with snow and ice on the roads) and drove Kevin to Philadelphia on Sunday for his two day visit at FHC. And Jon and I snuck in a weekend getaway in New York City with Karen’s sister Marcia and her husband Brad, between our FHC seminar and Kevin’s visit. A good time was had by everyone!

Don’t forget to check out videos of Kevin and lots of pictures on our blog at www.hudakfamily.blogspot.com. Be sure to click on the Blog Archive in the right column or click on Older Posts at the bottom of the page to view Kevin’s full journey.