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...