Today we worked with 4 kiddos. With the first little lady, we got to observe as Jessica and Amilcar used kinesiotape to extend her wrist and thumb bilaterally. Amilcar was really excited to use the tape we donated and see the awesome k-taping book Jessica brought. He requested for us to help him get a hold of a k-taping book, even if it was in English, because he could look at the pictures and get ideas. From there we continued to work on prone over a wedge and encouraged her to weight bear through her now taped hands by using our own hands to hold them down in the proper position. We got to introduce the new cause-and-effect toys we donated to the kids, which they especially loved! They were so helpful in gaining their motivation and interest as we tried to promote head and trunk control while in prone.
The next kiddo is one that has primarily extension tone. One goal is to help him find his midline by reaching for toys that are at the center of him. Last time, Jessica showed Amilcar that adding deep pressure to the boy's abdomen can facilitate extremity movements because he will feel more stability at his center. We then continued to work in prone on forearms and also in sitting to encourage weight bearing through his hands.
With the third boy, Jessica and Amilcar used kinesiotape again to help with his right concave scoliosis which expanded through his thoracic and upper lumbar spine. He was placed prone over a wedge and the tape was used to facilitate right trunk extension of the concave side of his scoliosis. Another tape was used to obtain a functional correction that went across his back. We then continued therapy by doing activities that encouraged him to shorten the left side of his body and actively elongate his right side. This was to facilitate the work that was already being done with the tape. Examples of the activities include prone play by having him reach for toys placed to the left side of his body but using his right hand. It seemed a bit challenging for him so we moved him into sitting and kept encouraging reaching with his right hand.
The final kiddo we saw was a 6 year old little girl. We spent the time working on head control by using new light up and musical toys we brought in to gain her interest, which were quite successful and fun! We also practiced sitting and balance reactions on a therapy ball we donated. Amilcar usually uses a peanut ball with the kiddos but mentioned he used to use regular therapy balls except they all had popped. So he was excited to get a new ball to use!
As this was our last time with Amilcar, we gave him a post card with a picture of Mount Rainier and wrote out a thank you for working with us and sharing his knowledge. It was a bitter sweet moment, and he was really appreciative of us coming in and invited us to come back and stay at his home. We said our goodbyes and took a picture with him. He was definitely a great therapist and we were so happy to have had the opportunity to work with him.
After school, we headed home for lunch and then Rossana taught us how to make a cake called Tres Leches! It translates to a cake of 3 milks and is super moist and yummy. We had been waiting for this day for a long time and had been holding off because different girls were having stomach problems, but finally we were able to do it. Three hours later, the cake was ready and was amazing as expected.
Later that night, the family was expecting company from French boys their daughter had met while traveling in Europe. Rossana set the table with small chicken sandwiches, cheese and bread, the tres leches cake, and home made hot chocolate. Yes it was delicious :) Something cool about this new company was that Catey finally got her chance to speak French and be the main talker at the table as she translated some things back to us :) They did speak a little English and some Spanish but Catey's French was very much appreciated.
After the guests left, everyone was pretty exhausted and ready for bed. We were all sad to realize the next day would be our last day at the school and with the amazing kiddos we met.
-Liz
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