Ricky's HBO Diary

          ENTRY ONE--9/17/99

          Ricky has now completed 7 HBO treatments - we now have to wait until Monday to resume because he has some sort of virus. For those of you that don't know us: Ricky is my wonderful 2 year old son that has spastic quad CP/PVL.
          I have decided not to tell all of our therapists and teachers at his preschool that we are having these HBO treatments so that I can see if they notice a change in him.....AND THEY HAVE!!! After 4 treatments one of our OT's asked if we were tying his left hand down and forcing him to use his right (previously, his right hand was very fisted - approx. 95% of the time). That day in school, Ricky used his right hand without being asked! He even painted an ice cream cone and an apple picture for me with the right hand. This was a first! Needless to say, everyone was impressed.
          Then on Friday (the 9th) we had a surprise birthday party of my daughter and had some relatives and friends over that hadn't seen Ricky in a few weeks. I can't tell you how many people asked what we were doing with him to make him so alert and attentive to everything around him. The best part of the night was his present to his sister Lindsay. He had always called her "Bob" (long story) but that day in the chamber he learned to say "Ninze" - while we were singing happy birthday Ricky proceeded to yell "Ninze" for her!
          Ricky also amazed his PT this past Monday - he has been working on riding a tricycle - with adapted pedals. Until that day, he always had to be pulled along to ride the bike, however on Monday, Ricky actually pedaled the trike 2 1/2 feet all by himself!
          Some other differences we have seen include less spasticity, better sleep patterns, able to sit indian style for longer periods, more verbal, use of both hands - especially the right - to touch nose, hair, eyes, ears, etc. when asked to and many other things that would take up too much space.
          The doctor checked him out on Wed. just to make sure he didn't have an ear infection and noticed many changes too. He stated to me that the first time he saw Ricky (before starting HBO treatments with him) that Ricky was like a little "blob" - for lack of a better word. Now he says that Ricky, in his opinion, is doing extremely well with so few treatments and can't believe the changes so far. (Ricky is his first patient with CP and the youngest he has treated with HBO).
          The last thing I want to mention is that while we are in the chamber (I go with him - even though it is a monoplace chamber) we always work on saying new words. Since starting treatment - he has learned to say on (and does so when getting dressed, when the TV is on, and other appropriate times), Ninze - for his sister, Didi - for our dog, and yum - instead of um for when he is hungry.

          HOME

          Boy Graphic created for the H.O.P.E. Foundation and provided by JessePaul.
          Site designed and maintained by April Hernandez
          Copyright 1999-2000 by Ricky's H.O.P.E. Foundation. Do not use any information or graphics from this site. Thank you.