Making New Connections

After the International Hemispherectomy Conference, affectionately known as HEMICON, I was determined to find a practitioner to perform the Anat Baniel Method of learning for Angie.  Anat Baniel herself was the keynote speaker at the conference and her presentation gave me hope that Angie could continue to make enormous progress by making new connections in her brain. We met families whose children participate in ABM and their stories were full of hope and promise.  The videos of the children's movements were remarkable and I knew I wanted this for Angie.

 ABM is based on the theory that, "The brains of infants and children are extremely changeable needing to form all the brain patterns associated with voluntary action. Their brains are constantly expanding and mapping new territory." The method accesses the remarkable capacity of the human brain to form new connections and new patterns, and reach levels of performance never achieved before.  After reading and  believing that brain structures become fixed and cannot change after early childhood this is the best news ever.  Brains can change at ANY age!  Who knew? 

We found Kathy, who practices ABM in Portland, and last week Angie had a series of 6 lessons, sometimes two in one day.  It is hard to describe all of the changes we are observing because some are very subtle.  These subtle changes will build into new experiences and abilities and we continue to facilitate Angie's learning.  After her third lesson with Kathy, Angie and I were walking to our car and she said, "Mom, Righty wants to hold your hand".  Stunned, I reached out and she held my hand with Righty.  This was the first time EVER that she has moved the fingers on her right hand independently.  Now this, was HUGE!!!

We are so excited to see the changes that will keep coming as we carry over what we have learned about ABM.  Angie will have another series of sessions in 4-6 weeks and we cannot wait to see her victories.  We are so thankful for Kathy and her patience and knowledge.  This has been a huge game-changer for Angie, and for us.