As expected, Josephine gained a lot of awareness and strength, but did not gain the ability to open her hand. We will continue to work on this at home, and hope to repeat the 4 week program again next year!
Over the last 4 weeks, she worked hard, and didn't seem to mind the cast at all. In fact, each time we took it off for a change, she was eager to put it back on. She even said "thank you, Reggi", as Reggi slipped it back on. Today, Reggi had to hide it because Josephine wanted to put it back on. Pretty funny! But, once she got used to it being off, she enjoyed being independent again. She ate supper, played with toys, all without me having to hold the items in her little fist......
Today as soon as the cast came off, Josephine began opening and closing her left (unaffected) hand and saying "open close open close". It was as if she was showing Reggi she CAN do this....and she knows what Reggi wants......with her left hand......and she wants to do it with her right hand, as we keep requesting of her.....but she just doesn't have the pathways from her brain to that hand...yet....
The best way to help her develop those pathways is to place her in weight-bearing positions to increase strength, as well as continue to get her to reach and push/pull with her arm as much as possible. Hopefully, hand function will follow.
But, as I always say....regardless of her progress, she will be able to do everything she wants in life.....one handed, or two.....this therapy is just to give her the opportunity to gain as much function as possible.
I'll update more after the final testing, which is Friday.
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