Kevin's Healing Journey: January 2019

2018 Dr. Nemeh

We continued to see Dr. Nemeh in 2018 but not as regularly as the year before. We had a visit on January 26, 2018 and April 27, 2018. I have to keep reminding myself that I don't know how Kevin's body feels and that the treatment he receives from Dr. Nemeh could give him some relief if he experiences any discomfort. The technology Dr. Nemeh uses usually reports that Kevin's neck and spine need treatment. At our last visit, Dr. Nemeh recommended using at Gua Sha Titanium Tool...easily bough on Amazon. :) I have found it helpful to use on the bottom of Kevin's left foot for plantar fasciitis and his Achilles tendon and slowly trying to work on his hamstrings. Although he recommended using it anywhere and everywhere on Kevin.

2018 Books and Learning Materials

Some of our favorite books to use with the Talker. The books have many core words that repeat throughout the book that are good opportunities for Kevin to use his Talker to participate in reading the book along with me.

GO DOG GO has a favorite bit that repeats throughout the book and it makes Kevin laugh...sometimes I even add different hats to play along for fun.

Words: hello, goodbye, like, not
More Words: go, dog, big, little, in, out, up, down, over, under, stop, night, play, sleep, colors,

BEAR WANTS MORE - February 2018

While we were at the table, Kevin said BEAR and I used it as an opportunity to place meaning to it. I brought out the books Bear Wants More and Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What do you See and let him choose. He chose Bear Wants More. I had him say/read the two word phrase “WANT MORE” throughout the story. When the story was ALL DONE, Kevin said BEAR WANT BOOK…so we read it again!

Reading Bear Wants More
with Marissa's fabulous character voices

The next day (with a different helper) Kevin said BEAR again and I prompted him. What about BEAR? Kevin said BOOK. My helper Kristen H. is a very good reader because she points things out on the page while reading the story. Of course Kevin wanted to read the book again and when she read "Bear wants..." we were waiting for Kevin to say MORE but instead he said EAT. Of course, Yes, the Bear Wants to EAT!!!! I love this one!

PUT ME IN THE ZOO - Thanks to Grandma we have another fun felt board story.

We have two book shelves of learning materials in all subject areas thanks to the many many generous family, neighbor friends, church friends, work friends, students and anyone else I could recruit to make Bit Cards for Kevin when we were in the early program years. A Bit card is encyclopedic knowledge with 10 facts on a specific subject. We had over 10,000 bit cards at one time, but about a year ago I weeded through some of them to allow more room to browse through the cramped book shelves. I am very grateful to have our very own library of knowledge at my fingertips. Grandma has been guiding Kevin through the States and Presidents and supplements with fun books she finds at the library and bookstores.

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA: State, Flag, Bird, Flower, and Tree

US PRESIDENTS and FIRST LADIES

2018 Home Therapy Program

Last year, we got two new cabinets for the office area so that I could better organize Kevin's art and program supplies. It helps me find and see old toys that are motivating for home therapy program. This oldie but a goodie toy was a big hit! I assisted Kevin as he PUT ON the COLORED gear wheels with his left hand. Then he had to give me a two-word phrase on his Talker before he hit the GO or PLAY button with his left hand on the TOY to HEAR the music and SEE the lights. Any two combinations: TOY GO PLAY HEAR

February 2018 - He looks so proud and happy!

LEFT ARM E-STIM - Video 1/19/18
You may have noticed the stim pads on Kevin's arm in the pictures above. We are using it during our home therapy for wrist/finger and elbow flexion and extension.

SCOOTER FUN - February 2018
Pap made Kevin a scooter a long time ago...like when he was a year old. I dusted off the scooter when Kevin's new PT started using one to work on his hamstrings. It's nice to have something different and a little fun to work on. He sits on the board and walks his legs forward to go.

Elliptical exercise at the gym

2018 Music Therapy

February 28, 2018 - using left arm stim

Video - March 7, 2018

Video - May 23, 2018 left hand

Video - June 13, 2018 left hand

Video - June 13, 2018 Over the Rainbow

Video - June 13, 2018 You are my Sunshine

Video - July 18, 2018 left hand

November 7, 2018 Just another fun day with music therapy...and light up drum sticks!

2018 Co-Treat with Music Therapy

Music is a big motivator for Kevin. Over the summer we tried a couple sessions of co-treating music therapy with PT, OT, and SLP. We found many benefits co-treating across all therapy areas but the most benefit was with OT targeting specific muscle groups, on Kevin's non-dominant arm, in a creative and rhythmic way. Both therapists enjoy working together and are learning so much. In the fall we began scheduling once a month co-treats with OT.

June 19, 2018