First day meeting precious Sara.
She had been abandoned at 3 months, and lived in another children's home until coming to us. I, in all my infinite wisdom, told the staff that she wouldn't walk, or talk, or feed herself, etc. As if that was what she was to be defined by.
Because she was used to being left alone, she wouldn't cry, or call out to us, or do any kind of attention seeking behaviours. She was easy to put in the corner and forget about until it was time to feed her again. As much as it pains me to say this, that is what we did for a time.
It dawned on me that more needed to be done with her. I started getting in her face and talking to her throughout the day. I would say hi to her whenever I walked by. The next week the physical therapist, Vivian, called me to the therapy area to show me something. Vivian had already been working with her for about a month by this point. She told me that all of a sudden for some reason Sara was much more relaxed, and was opening up her fingers and splaying them, whereas before she would hold them clenched up in a fist.
I told Vivian I had been talking and interacting more with her, and she was so surprised at the change. She encouraged me to do more. At this point, I asked the staff to get in on it. I asked them to talk to her as much as they could.
Soon I could make her laugh, and it was one of the most beautiful things I had heard.
Then she started to make eye contact. And track us as we walked by. And lifting up her head while she was lying down, so that she could see what was going on. I told her pediatrician what she was doing, I don't think he believed me. When she made eye contact with him, he was so excited too!
I was blown away. Literally. Hadn't I already decreed she wouldn't do any of those things?!?
I am so happy she is surpassing and overcoming so much. It is like Vivian says, her little brain is waking up! With a lot of stimulation, good food, therapy, and a whole lot of love, this little girl is going to do great things!
Sadly I can't load the video on this blog, but the most amazing thing happened last week. I was in the play room with some music on, and I had Sara beside me. I was singing and clapping along, when I noticed that Sara was making movements similar to clapping. I wasn't sure that it wasn't just a reflex movement, so I stopped and got my video ready. When I stopped, she stopped. When I started again to clap, she did too! If you want to see the video, please visit our Facebook page, here.
I didn't ever think she would reach such a level of function. But now I am planning the day she starts speaking, maybe walking, etc. If she doesn't do anything new from this day on, no big deal, but you had better believe I am going to push her to do the absolute most she can. Because when I look into those gorgeous eyes, I see a little girl that wants to do so much more!
Because she was used to being left alone, she wouldn't cry, or call out to us, or do any kind of attention seeking behaviours. She was easy to put in the corner and forget about until it was time to feed her again. As much as it pains me to say this, that is what we did for a time.
Soon I could make her laugh, and it was one of the most beautiful things I had heard.
Then she started to make eye contact. And track us as we walked by. And lifting up her head while she was lying down, so that she could see what was going on. I told her pediatrician what she was doing, I don't think he believed me. When she made eye contact with him, he was so excited too!
I was blown away. Literally. Hadn't I already decreed she wouldn't do any of those things?!?
I didn't ever think she would reach such a level of function. But now I am planning the day she starts speaking, maybe walking, etc. If she doesn't do anything new from this day on, no big deal, but you had better believe I am going to push her to do the absolute most she can. Because when I look into those gorgeous eyes, I see a little girl that wants to do so much more!
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