Right hand therapy

In just a few weeks, Josephine has made a lot of progress with her right hand.  When she first came to us, she had no awareness of her right hand, other than to rub it with her left hand.  She was not able to consiously move it.  With gently holding her left hand, and enticing her to touch touch toys (and praising if "any" movement happened, she began to be able to move it forward and back, but no movement at the elbow.  Tonight she found a bowl of jelly beans at my parent's house, and she was able to move  her arm back and forth, as well as up and down, including the elbow! 

I'm still working on getting her to bear weight, even if just on a bent elbow.  So far, that arm collapses if I place her in any weight bearing exercise.  I'm not sure how that skill will emerge...but will keep trying.  After that skill emerges, I am hopeful some opening of the fist may occur.

Of course, her therapists will work on these goals as well.  However, 1/2 hour per week will not be enough, so lots of home therapy will be needed.  Unfortunately, as much as I want to get her into an intense summer program, I have to wait until she has had more time to adjust and bond to us....so, I will hold off until the following summer.

Josephine's sister, Madalyn has been able to gain almost full function in bilateral activities, thanks to early diagnosis and  therapy that began at 9 months.  And even more importantly, each year since she was 2 she has participated in  4 weeks of 7 hour per day Constraint Induced Movement Therapy.   We will never know how much of Josephine's starting point is attributed to lack of therapy at a young age, or just location of her stroke, and her individual brain's way of re-wiring.  However, since Josephine has full use of of left side, and will no doubt continue to make gains in her right side,  I'm sure she will be able to do all things she wants to in life!

So, as you watch the video, remember this is just her starting point.  She will  make huge gains and will learn to be motivated by the independence and sense of accomplishment each fine motor skill gain will bring!

Here are the videos that shows Madalyn's starting point...and where she is now.....

http://www.onetruemedia.com/my_shared?z=2c24c943149b444adc0c91&utm_source=otm&utm_medium=text_url