Ricky's HBO Diary
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.
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