Today started with a splint appointment at 11am. At this appointment the therapists heated up the hard plastic and formed and cut the mold for the splint she will be using this month. In past constraint sessions she wore a cast all day every day for a month, but with this research study, the CHAMP study, Reagan will wear a splint (not a cast) and she will only wear it during her therapy sessions. She is very excited about not having to wear it all day. And she convinced the team to let her use the co-band like she used on her cast instead of the velcro straps that traditionally accompany the splint. Today she picked pink zebra print!
After the splint was made, we went to an outdoor terrace to have lunch as part of her therapy session. Although very challenging, she was able to make ham and cheese cracker sandwiches, eat goldfish and an apple. As she ate, we developed some goals that we have for Reagan for this month. After lunch Reagan went with Ruth and a new therapist, Kate, to go play in the treatment rooms. Given she is older now, they said I don't need to attend the entire session. Unfortunately that means treatment pictures will be scarce, but I'll get what I can! After therapy she played for a little while in the play area in the waiting room. There is a wonderful woman there, Patti, who will watch siblings while parents take their child to a therapy appointment. Reagan sat and made a bead necklace, colored a butterfly picture and played with the doll house with two other girls.
After an hour splint appointment and 2.5 hours of therapy it was time to leave the hospital and find something fun for the afternoon. We decided to go to the Children's Discovery Museum at the Downtown Mall. Since I bought a membership last August when were were in Charlottesville for constraint therapy it was free. And as usual, the kids loved it! Reagan even chose to push Trixie (her new My Little Pony) by herself in her stroller…with ONLY her left hand! Needless to say you can tell from Reagan's face that she is pretty proud of herself. Last year it was a struggle just to push the stroller. Amazing what a year of hard work will help you accomplish!
After the museum we walked through the Downtown Mall and ate outside at Sal's Cafe Italia. As usual, they have great Italian food and the outdoor atmosphere was superb. A definite must! After dinner it was back to the hotel for bath and bed. The kids are both exhausted and it definitely makes therapy harder when they are tired. Both were in bed and asleep by 8:30pm. YAY! And it's on to Day 2!
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