Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT) Day One

This is me and Mummy in the Chamber- Day One

Yesterday I had my first hour of 20 hours of hyperbaric oxyen therapy (HBOT). I have to wear a hood that covers my head and seals around my waist. It has 2 tubes of the front/side that let 100% oxygen in and removes all my carbon dioxide. I had only had a 15 minute trial the week before. I was having a terrible time with my teeth, I had a runny nose and just cried all the time.  I was feeling so awful I just wanted cuddles :(
One week later I tried again. I got one full hour of oxygen and I only grizzled slightly. It wasn't nice to stay still for so long. It can get very hot in the chamber so even when it is cold outside I still only wear a short sleeved shirt and a pair of shorts. I even have a fan inside. There is a TV that we can watch or we can bring a DVD to pass the time.

At the moment my eye sight is still pretty poor. I can roll over but cannot sit or crawl. I can't speak and I can be fed fork mashed foods... and I am a terrible sleeper most of the time... So there is lots to learn to do!

Hyperbaric treatment puts a high concentration of oxygen in my blood that can travel through to the damaged parts of my brain and start to repair them, this should help for me to create more neuro pathways so I can function better. It can also be good for vision, wound healing and a whole lot of other ailments. They even say that it will keep you looking youthful :)

I have attached a link so you can see diagrams that explain all this http://hyperbaricworx.com.au/whatis.aspx

Practicing sitting

I have been working on my sitting. I need help to get into position, I can't sit up by myself, but I am learning to balance. Did you know that if you put your arm out it can help stop you from falling over??

I managed to do this for a long time this day. It must have been on a day that I had my hamstrings worked on. I have had trouble doing this now, I must be a bit tight in my legs again.

Pushing up

This is me at the Andrea Plumb Clinic, one of the first times I was starting to push myself up



The more I practice the easier it is starting to become. I am also learning that if I spend more time pushing up, Andrea has less time to work on my muscles he he, clever.

Happy new year!

Happy new year everyone!

A big thank you to everyone that helped me through last year, your support has meant so much and you have helped my family and I through a really hard year. To everyone that gave their time, donated money or took the time to ask how I was doing, what you did for us was really appreciated.

You all helped me to raise all the money I needed for my therapies and specialist appointments that would have otherwise been hard- nearly impossible for me to do. As a result there are some things that I find easier to do.

In 2010.....

I learned to roll!

I started to eat!

I learned to push up!

I can follow a torch light with my eyes!

I tried to sleep and was good at it for a while!

I tried to sit up (more like stomach crunches)!

There is so much more I will try to achieve this year in 2011! Bring it on!

Surprise!!

Today I did something I had NEVER done before and we were lucky enough to catch it on camera! With a little help (but almost completely on my own) I lifted myself up! And to my complete surprise I could hold myself up so I looked around the room in amazement... I did not know I could do that- it was the greatest!! I could see things from a new perspective.

 In a room that I visit for two hours each week I showed

 my new skill.

Myo Fascial release therapy has done wonderful things for me. It loosens the tension in my muscles and makes movement easier. It will keep my bones straight and hopefully save me from many painful operations.

Mummy held my hands flat and I used my own strength to support my weight. I even managed to balance on my own! It felt like forever before I got tired and lay back down.

So this was my wonderful day. With lots of work I am going to have many more great achievements and surprises!

You just watch!

Exhaustion....

I must admit that we have all been soooo tired lately. It seems like we have been working non stop all the time, and so we should- we have a very important goal to reach. One that will change a life forever for the better.

I must also admit that with my sandy eyes I have not been working anywhere near as hard with Blaise has he deserves, but none the less we haven't stopped all together.

It feels like Blaise forever has appointments (and all early mornings too). We have been going to Myofascial release therapy at the Andrea Plumb Clinic twice a week- the best money we have ever spent for Blaise.... and swimming... and dieticians... and physios... and OTs....

Plus what we do for him at home.

But they say that with success comes renewed energy and spirit and I came by some today!

And although I am still tired I find myself itching to do more for him because Blaise wants more from himself and that is the most wonderful feeling.

I will share Blaise's glory in my next post which shows that there is a little person in my house that has been working lots harder than I thought I was.

Christmas Pie Drive

...Christmas Pie Drive...

We are running another great Homestylebake Pie drive!

There are some yummy Christmas cakes, plum puddings, rumballs and shortbreads to name just a few that have been added as extras to the normal pie drive order form.

$1 from every item sold will go directly to me to help with my therapies.

Money and order forms will need to be returned by 25th of November if you wish to participate and they will be delivered on 3rd December to our home in Roderick Street Ipswich.

If you would like an order form please let us know and we will email or post one out to you.