More of Neurosuit...

As you all know, I had the chance to go out of the house last weekend and attend a seminar...hehee..yes, sort of like a time off for me lah ya, ya rite, attending a seminar on how to help Ridhwan progress even better is still work for me...but a good work ;) ... anyway, initially I was worried about going to a seminar as I've left work for such a long time already and the thought of going there to listen people talk worries me that I may just fall asleep...hahaa...and the thought of mingling around with people too detest me as I'm such a shy person at times that I would probably just smile and clam up when people approach...well....so much for that, it turn out just fine and actually very interesting!! Heehee...yes, I wasn't that shy, I did speak to some parents and therapist there...and most of all, I gain a new knowledge that I find to be very interesting and quite beneficial...in terms of knowledge lah....

Anyway, the seminar was a whole day event...from 9 am to 5 pm, thus Ridhwan is stuck with his dad...hahaa....good practice for my husband anyway...but of course, his ever loving grandmother is just a room away...hehee...throughout the seminar I did miss him a lot and wondering how he was doing at home but most of all, trying to see if this Neurosuit is suitable for Ridhwan or not...

I'm sure all of you are asking, what in the world is this Neurosuit thingy all about? Taken from the NeuroSuit website, its definition is as below:

The NeuroSuit™ creates a breathable, soft dynamic orthotic. It improves and changes proprioception (pressure from the joints, ligaments, muscles), reduces a patient’s pathological reflexes, restores physiological muscles synergies (proper patterns of movement), and loads the entire body (anti-musculature) with weight (a process similar to the reaction of our muscles to gravitational forces constantly acting up on us ).

All of the above normalizes afferent vestibule-proprioceptive input (information arrives to vestibular system). The vestibular system is a tremendously important center. It processes, integrates and sends back all the information that arrives from muscles, joints, tendons, etc. It influences muscle tone, balance and position of the body in space.

The more correct proprioception from the joints, ligaments, muscles, and tendons, the more correct the alignment. The NeuroSuit is a tool that allows the body to be correctly aligned with compression to the joints increasing proprioception dramatically!

Ridhwan with NeuroSuit founder, Patricica Gonzalez

Hehhee...for those who are unfamiliar with the jargons above may say to yourself, what??!! Hehee...trust me, I too intially was always gaping when the doctors and therapist talk to each other in their medical language....okay, from my own understanding, this NeuroSuit is a suit where it is attached and connected to each other by a bungee cord(something like an elastic rubber, a very strong one too) to a vest, an elbow pad, a pants and knee pads, where connecting these cords together with a specific way will enable the child to move in the correct way or in other words...be able to sit like us normal people, be able to stand correctly, and most of all be able to eventually walk like a normal child....that's the target of the suit lah..however, as their founder mentioned again and again in the seminar, this is not a miracle suit...this is not a suit, where you wear it once, and tadaaa...my son can walk! No! ...It is a suit that helps the body to be aware of itself and hoping by having that sensory information being given to the body all at one go, the child will feel better with their body and with proper consistent exercises, the child will eventually reach whatever its milestones he/she needs to reach...sounds logic to me...also, its not all about the suit...the suit just enhances and speed the progress as we need to incorporate other therapy while using the suit, such as hippotherapy...no, we do not use a hippopatamus here! Hahhaa....hippo is horse in greek! Yup, new word i learned last saturday...or in other words, horse riding lah nie..and other therapy like the usual exercises we do with ridhwan in physiotherapy and occupational therapy...meaning intensive therapy with the usage of NeuroSuit will hopefully speed up the childs progress by few months or weeks I suppose, unlike the conventional straight forward therapy we are doing to him all this while which could be slow and may take years some time....hmmm...menarik kan....truthfully, who wouldn't want your child to walk faster! sit faster! or anything that he needs to accomplish faster...

But...as Jia Kenn's mother is contemplating too right now, the one hour session we had with Tricia(NeuroSuit's founder) somehow has not given us 100% confidence that this suit will work...but of course, when I remember what Tricia said to us, it takes time, just that its faster than the normal therapis we are doing....maybe its true ya?...wallahualam...

Well, the try out that Sunday was good...though I still feel an hour of testing wasn't enough to test the suit's capabilities....but one thing my husband was amazed was the fact Ridhwan could walk quite well without an AFO, which is a real plus point and he stood one time very straight and upright...something which he doesn't really want to do everytime we do it on him at home or even during physiotherapy...and the fact that he didn't resist and scream away when we wore him the suit..that's an even plus sign, which means that he must be feeling all the sensation given to him at one time from the suit..as I could see he was very quiet and thinking...must be thinking, apa benda ni! wow..what are these feelings....

Soooo..ntahlah, ikut harga, darn expensive...but, for Ridhwan I am willing to find or borrow it for him...but still...is it really worth it to spend that much...and will it really work? ....but then again, everything about a brain injured child needs repetition right....but if the repitition can be done with a tool that shortens the period to reach the milestones...that's even better right? ...truthfully...if i had that much of money in my bank..I'd go for it...what do have i to loose...okay, so my money..but there were examples that I saw on last saturday and it amazed me...so maybe different child will take different time...but if it helps somehow...why not right? ....I think I need to solat istikharah for this one....also wait for the feedback from our rehab dr. also, she looked pretty excited with this suit....so far our therapist likes the suit...but wether it would be useful for Ridhwan is still debatable as Ridhwan has progressed so well now...but then its that word, speed...faster....man, i want him to walk fast if I can kan!...sabar Reenaz...sabar...

Anyway...may Allah give me wisdom to decide this NeuroSuit thingy....and if ada rezeki to buy this..ada lah Insya-Allah....but for now, thanks Pui Yen for calling me about this suit...thanks Fezia for setting up the time to try out the suit ...and thank you Tricia for designing a wonderful contraption/tool that is helping so many special needs children out there!!

Tricia wearing the suit on Ridhwan, sedap naa dia baring atas Auntie Sarjit(Physio therapist) dia yea..hehee...sabor je lah....

Okay, suit is on now!

See how Ridhwan seems to struggle when he is made to walk...this is very normal for me...forcing him to walk...

See how he tends to bend when walking...need to adress and overcome this too..I mean you do bend when you walk, but Ridhwan overdoes it...

That's right Ridhwan! We teach you how to stand straight okay! Truthfully, this is one of his most upright stand, we've ever seen...hmmm...so NeuroSuit working? ...

Comelnya anak mama with the hat! He lookes so cute in it...but as usual he hated it when I placed it onto his head...hehee

Ridhwan with his full NeuroSuit! Cool ya..and to think this suit has made a 5 year old boy in Hong Kong walk without assistance as far as 3 meters...amazing!! So...beli? tak beli? ...hmmm...

Neurosuit seminar and try out

Last Saturday I had the opportunity to go to a one day seminar to hear about this thing called Neurosuit...actually, there was an article about it in NST some time ago...my mom showed me the paper cutting she cut out and I just read with eagerness as it sounds so interesting as it originated from a suit being used by cosmonauts in Russia last time and it seems it is still being used by them now!...wow, Ridhwan in a suit worn by cosmonauts!! (in the US they are called astronauts as well all are more familiar with) ...however, then I wondered if this special suit is from the states, then how much would it cost after times 3.6 or so like that, dah lah austronauts guna woooo...so, I never bothered to ask the person responsbile to bring it into Malaysia, thinking it would probably cost a bomb!...untiiiil...yes, until dear Jia Kenn's mother called me up asking me if I'd like to know more about it and try it out if it is suitable for Ridhwan...and for that Pui Yen, I am so grateful that you made that call to me and the follow up with Fezia as it has been a wonderful experience and eye-opener for me last weekend...

Okay will talk more about this suit...for now I'll be posting pics only....and to know more about Neurosuit, you may google it up and find quite a few pics of it and their main website is www.neurosuit.com ....I'll be back with more Neurosuit ya ;)

Ridhwan trying out the Neurosuit for the first time!

Ridhwan's new school!

Yup, Ridhwan has a new brain development class!! Well, we were going to Shichida all these years...I still can't believe that Ridhwan has been attending Shichida method since 6 months old and he is already 4 years old now! However, lately I noticed that Shichida was somewhat not suitable for Ridhwan anymore as the class was a bit too advance for Ridhwan....you see Shichida method is good, that I do agree, however, i noticed as the child gets to the age of able to write, they tend to have lots and lots of writting exercises in class which is actually good but for someone like Ridhwan, which have not learn to even grasp a pencil or pen that well...it can be quite frustrating to the mother...yes, the mother is the one who gets frustrated...hehee...well, maybe Ridhwan too kan, its just that he never shows it aje...so after forcing my hubby to attend the Shichida class a few times and made him see for himself why I told him that I am now a bit 'tawar hati' with the class...he understood why I am frustrated....but then...yes the but....I just can't quit Shichida and not have a backup class for him...he stills need stimulation and interaction with other kids as it would be very beneficial for him....and as if Allah has answered my prayers, it so happened that one of his classmate's mother was starting up a new brain development center! As Shichida is from japan, this new class is from America...Sadly, I didn't have the chance to hear the founder from America gave a talk when she was here early this year..or was it last year...anyway, the wonderful mother, yes I like her a lot, such a sweet and gentle person and friendly too! Well, she told me all about the new centre and told me, if anytime I'd like to join it should I leave Shichida, just contact her and do come and visit the centre whenever I wish to. So, I decide first to look up in the internet this new place called Twiddle Wink....Its link is here ya Right Brain Education ...and this is a paper clipping of the Twiddle Wink centre being visited by our Prime Minister's wife, Datin Rosmah.

Anyway, I've only been to one class with Ridhwan at Tweedle Wink as he was down with chicken pox recently. But just by being in one class, I find that this class or centre is somewhat different from Shichida and is unique in its own way. For those mothers, who have been telling me that you are in the waiting list of Shichida or even been rejected, do try out Twiddle Wink as your 2nd choice as personally Shichida in some ways have helped Rdihwan a lot but maybe you could try with Shichida one year or two to get the ideas on how to do home practice and if you want new interesting brain development centre to enhance the child mentally and physically, yes, physically, one of the advantages and plus point that I see in Twiddle Wink is it's not just about seeing flashcards and playing games on the table, but there is trampoline time or rebounder as they call it there and even big ball time just like Ridhwan's physiotherapy at the hospital! Which is very good for normal or special needs child.

So, this weekend hopefully Ridhwan is going back to his class...after 3 weeks holiday...boohoo..sian Ridhwan every week asking "Class? ...class?"...and sometimes saying "Class time! class time!" but he was stuck at home....sian anak mama...anyway, looking forward for the next class! Lets "have fuuuun"! as Ridhwan would day ;)

Here are some pictures of our wonderful sensei Christy and us during her last day at Shichida...I do miss her a lot..she is such a great sensei to Ridhwan....

Ridhwan and his favourite Sensei Christy on her last day with Shichida Method at Centrepoint, P.J.

As usual, my dear son wriggling away when sitting on other people besides his mother and father and grandparents..aiseh Ridhwan....

Thank you for 3 wonderful Shichida years Christy, you have been a wonderful, patient and caring Sensei to Ridhwan. You're the best lah!

Ridhwan has chicken pox!!!

I still don't know where in the world he got it...as he stays at home with me all the time...ever since the chaos of H1N1 , we too have been avoiding shopping complexes and crowded areas...well hubby and I do go out to buy groceries or important things for ridhwan but Ridhwan has always stayed home...except..one sunday afternoon where we went to SACC but that was a very short stop...and then of course we went to Ridhwan's new brain development class in Taman Tun Dr. Ismail...which will be my next posting ya ;) ...so then the question arise, he got it from the kids in the new class maybe? though the other kids were fine...OR did he get it from the new speech therapy at SDMC which didn't touch or interact with him pun and that was like 2 weeks before he got it....hmm..wondering...wondering...

Anyway, wonder all I can...he got it! It freaked me out a bit at first as hubby and I initially thought it was 'bisul' at his thighs but as usual the mother's instinct knows better...I told myself if this was not bisul, it sure looked like chicken pox...but then, he has no fever...and also it was that one little bisul which looked watery on his thigh, so I though, nantilah ask my mom and it was probably just bisul....and so the instinct was right!!..on Tuesday morning, he was covered with spots! Red spots and some watery!! Oh dear, it is chicken pox...but since the spots were so small unlike mine, when I had it at standard 5, loooong time ago...I was thinking, eh tul ke chicken pox nie or is this some other allergy or something...well, me and my mom decided, query all we can to ourselves, the best thing is to bring Ridhwan to his neuro paed in SDMC. And so, on a tuesday afternoon (cause she only has afternoon clinic on tuesdays) we brought Ridhwan to see his neuro paed....Yup, I was right, it was chicken pox! Though the thing was, he already had a vaccine jab in 2006...and somehow he still got it! But since he ajready had a jab, the neuro paed told me that it would probably be mild and from how it looks and spreading, it looks like a mild one and also since he had no fever...well, it is sort of good news as the one thing we would be worried is if he gets fever...and fever scares me cause it means, temp rising and fits....yes...the scarry thing called fits may just re-occur...nauzubillah...so in a way, it was sort of good its a mild one and he got it when he's young and also my dad said this would definitely boost his antibody and his body will be stronger..Insya-Allah...amin...

So, past one week, all I've been doing is putting calamine on all his spots...he was a bit cranky last week but he is such a good boy as he really didn't complain and not much crying you know...I am so proud of you Ridhwan, you are one strong boy and you really didn't cry much but was just cranky once or twice in a week because of feeling itchy..but that's it...otherwise he has been such a patient and calm boy...mama is so proud of you my love!!

Oh and today, he did something so sweet...he crawled to me quickly when he saw me as I just finished cooking his porridge and he tried to climb on me and said "Mother...mother...angkaaat...angkaaat..." ..yes....he sometimes likes to call me mother...hahaha...and then when I did eventually carry him, he hugged me and said "My mother!!".....gosh! I was surprised the fact he knows the word, 'My' and he used it with 'Mother' and to tell I am his mother!! You made my day today Ridhwan...you really did..and my son...your mother loves you so much and prays everyday you'll be a healthy and strong boy always...amin....

P.S Pic of him with calamine is coming soon ya...i get so engrossed in taking care of him sometimes that I even forgot to take pics of him...hehee...