ABM Therapy

We are adding a new member to Team  Luke!  I took Luke to meet a new therapist named Chad Estes with Evolution Through Movement (http://www.evolutionthroughmovement.com/).  He is trained in the Anat Baniel Method (ABM).  In a very, very simple nutshell, this kind of therapy teaches children movement that helps their brain create new connections.  I've been reading this book, The Brain that Changes Itself.  It basically deals with the plasticity of the brain and the ability of the brain to create different pathways to overcome damage.  I know that the damage to Luke's brain can't be undone - ever.  But I do believe that his brain is working hard to make different connections and overcoming the damage to his brain.  Hopefully working with Chad will help Luke make those important connections and fire up parts of his brain to take over different things that the damaged parts can't. 

I first heard about this therapy from a friend I've made because of this blog - Susan.  Her son has macrocephaly and PMG also and he has been doing this therapy for awhile now.  She loves it and it's been helping her little guy.  I read about it awhile ago but didn't think it was available in this area. 

Soooo we're going to give this ABM stuff a shot.  It's a very intensive therapy that at this point is not covered by insurance.  We're not sure what to expect but we feel like it's one more thing we can try to make sure we give Luke the best chance possible.  We're starting a little under the recommended therapies.  We'll be going 2 days per month with 2 therapies each day.  From what I understand - 5 therapies is the lowest recommended number.  Due to my work schedule and concerns over Luke's tolerance we're starting out slow...

I wasn't sure what to expect when we met with Chad.  And honestly both Luke and I were a little under the weather so I wasn't expecting much.  But it went well.  Chad was very calm with Luke.  It looked a lot like he was just massaging Luke and moving his body parts around.  While he was doing it, though, he was quietly commentating on everything he was doing to Luke.  And he was speaking to Luke not me.  He encouraged me to give him snacks/drinks while he was working with him so he was comfortable and happy.  While it looked very relaxed and calming - the things he was doing were very deliberate.  It's hard to explain but I was impressed. 

Here's a little bit of an explanation.  There's a link to the website if you're interested in reading a little bit more about it.  And just to clarify - we are NOT ending any part of our traditional therapy.  I LOVE our therapists and credit them with Luke's amazing progress so far.  We are looking now - and always - for anything at all to further Luke's progress.  I don't know if we're going to love this or not but we're going to go ahead and give it a shot! 

With the ABM the focus is very different. Rather than try to fix the problem directly by focusing on the limitations, the focus is shifted to where the solutions actually lie – with the brain. The ABM focuses on helping the brain of the brain injured child do its job better. It helps the brain right itself and regain its ability to powerfully and consistently create new neural patterns that bring about successful solutions. We apply gentle techniques that directly communicate with the nervous system of the child through, primarily, movement, enhanced awareness and non-verbal kinesthetic experiences. With the ABM, the brain of the child with cerebral palsy or any other brain injury regains its ability to function in a healthy way. That is when the brain damaged child can begin doing what healthy children do.
(from http://www.anatbanielmethod.com/cerebral-palsy-treatment.htm).

That's it for now!!  I'll update you after our first FULL intensive session!