Dear Readers,
Not only is April the month of our birthday, it is also
Occupational Therapy month! Of course I couldn’t let this event go unnoticed.
As the triplet sister to brothers with Cerebral Palsy,
therapists have always been a part of my life. I have some amazing memories of
therapists who made a big impact on little Claire as I struggled to understand
my brothers’ disability and why I did not have it. My mom has amazing memories
of occupational therapists showing her that the term Cerebral Palsy does not define her sons, and holding her hand
through the months and years following their diagnosis.
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| Our first experience with therapy--a study on PT and premature infants! |
This month gives me an opportunity to thank those women
(both Occupational and Physical therapists) who have not just helped my
brothers reach milestones, but have helped our family walk this unique journey.
Our first experience with Occupational Therapy was when we
were two years old. When my mom talks about that OT, Susan, she says she helped Mom make it through those first couple of years. The below pictures
were taken from my Mom’s scrapbook.
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| "Mrs.Susan was Mommy's dearest friend in Chicago--even though we only saw her at Occupational Therapy! She always talked Mommy through every stage and she helped us make huge progress!" |
A good Occupational Therapist is one who:
1.) Encourages
the little sibling to participate, as well. (even allows her to steal beads and
stow them away in her diaper occasionally…or every week.)
2.) Values
the Mom’s input and reassures her that she is the one who knows her children
the best. For a first-time mom living in a world of specialists, Mom needed
that assurance that she was the most important figure in her children’s’ world.
And the most informed.
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| Baby Benjamin working hard in OT |
We moved away, leaving Mom’s dear
friend and the boys’ therapist behind. Little Claire was not impressed with the new therapists. They didn’t allow me to join
in on Benjamin and Mason’s special “play” time. How was I to understand that
they were working? I only knew that they got special time with fun, new toys
and grown ups, and was heartbroken when I was repeatedly told “no”.
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| At our "goodbye" party with their first OT. Notice there are THREE napkins? Little Claire got a cupcake, too :) |
To any therapists out there: remember you aren’t
just working with your patient; you are working within a family unit. As
therapists, you have a platform to set the tone for how the sibling views this
disability. Will they resent the special treatment their sib gets, or cherish
time spent helping their sib achieve goals? That’s something to keep in mind
the next time a whiny typical sibling sits in the hallway during your therapy
session.
Eventually I grew to understand what Benjamin and Mason were
doing in therapy and realized why I couldn’t take part in it. We moved yet
again, and this time the move came with a new type of therapy entirely.
Hippotherapy. I had
fallen in love with horses when we did a hippotherapy summer program. The
summer program was amazing, and I was a full participant. When Benjamin and
Mason began doing hippotherapy every week, my mom arranged for me to ride one
of the boys’ horses for a few minutes after their session was over. I was in
heaven.
Tears well up as I write, this memory is still so close to
my heart. Right around Christmas, the program director told me he had a special
surprise for me. He was going to let me ride my very own horse for a whole therapy session.
Wow. Talk about including the sibling. He saw what joy
riding the horses gave me, and despite the fact that I didn’t have special
needs and wasn’t there for hippotherapy, blessed me with the gift of getting to
ride one of his horses. That was a moment I will always remember, and always be
thankful for.
3.) A good
therapist sees the potential in everyone,
and helps them make their dreams come true.
This story leads me to present day. These years around
therapists left a big impact on me. I have seen the life changing work
therapists do for their patients and
families, and because of that aspire to be an Occupational Therapist myself. I
can only pray I will be able to leave a lasting impact on these precious kids
and their families like these therapists have made on us.
Probably the most important attribute of a good therapist:
4.)
They don’t care that we are sometimes in sweats (and occasionally PJs) when
they come to our house. Hehe
Not too long ago, Mason’s physical therapist was at our
house. I had been feeling discouraged, and Mason voiced my concerns to his
therapist. She looked at me and said,
“Claire, Occupational Therapy changes lives. You are going
to change lives.”
Another moment I’ll never forget. Another therapist making a
life changing impact on me.
What makes therapists special? The opportunity they have to
make a difference every single moment of every single day. It might be a hug to
a frightened mother, the offer to the sister to join in, the encouragement that
you are able, whatever your abilities.
To all of you therapists out there, thank you. You really
are changing the world—one life at a time.
