Ukraine, Oct 2012 – Day 2

A team of 3 therapists visited the Children’s Hospital today. We started out in the NICU, where we reviewed positioning techniques and taught oral motor techniques to improve feeding. They were also receptive to the idea of curtains for the bright open windows in the NICU, and we are having them made to be delivered later this week. We were very encouraged when they asked if we would visit a different part of the hospital to examine a little girl with a cleft palate. Connie was able to give them great ideas for helping this little girl.

During the morning, our other TEAM group was able to see several parents who have kids with special needs from the nearby area. We were able to see one girl from the previous year whose mom reported they have worked on strengthening for the past year and she can now change sitting positions independently and her balance has also improved. We were able modify her therapy plan to include more advanced strengthening for PT and OT, and speech was able to discuss vocal strengthening and oral motor strengthening. In addition to several other children, our group was also able to see a 10 year old boy who was walking slowly without equipment. With our PT’s help, he left the clinic with new braces and increased confidence for his 4th grade class. Speech was able to provide him with some articulation exercises and word lists for practice to increase his intelligibility.

We ended our day with a heart warming thank you from the Director of Antoshka and the head Neurologist. We feel very blessed and privileged to have seen the children we have worked with before and develop new relationships with families.

Please keep us in your prayers as we are expecting to see over 50 families tomorrow in Slavansk!

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