Everyday Miracles

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Something really amazing happened yesterday. As I was leafing through the newspapers in the morning, a little leaflet slipped out. It was an announcement for a new children's hospital in my neighborhood and somewhere in all the details one line stood out. They had an pediatric occupational therapist for kids with special needs. And this wasn't just any occupational therapist - she was the former head of the occupational therapy department at one of the largest government hospitals in our city. I was like wow!!!

So I called the hospital right away and the staff scheduled an appointment for the same afternoon. Now I haven't really written about the trouble we were having in finding a good occupational therapist. We have had to change therapists three times for various reasons. Because of this, AngelicA's fine motor skills are not as good as they should ideally be, even if we factor in the delay for kids with Down Syndrome.

When we finally saw the therapist, it was like a dream. The facility was nice, they had a nice big aquarium right next to the therapy area and AngelicA had her little nose glued to it for most of the time we were there.

Our meeting with the therapist went off really well. She did an assessment and drew up an therapy plan for Angel. What I found most encouraging and comforting was that she was positive about Angel and her future, she was empathetic, kind, caring and so good with Angel that my little girl almost went and sat on her lap. It was a big change from having to drag her for therapy while she resists, kicking and screaming. And the best thing is that it is right next door and not half way across town so I won't be kicking and screaming (in my head of course) either.

I have a feeling this will go well and I am so, so happy. It feels like a prayer was answered before it was even on my lips. A little miracle. Reminded me of a homily I heard a long time ago. The priest had read a beautiful poem and talked of the little miracles that happen in our lives everyday, those which we often fail to notice. I found a poem (not sure if it was the same) and thought I should share it with you.

Everyday Miracles

By Walterrean Salley



Miracles happen
Every day
To many a folk
In many a way.
They’re not hidden
Beneath a tree,
But manifested
For all to see.


A mother giving
Sacred birth.
A flower shoots up
From the earth.
A wanderer
Who finds his way.
A survivor
Sees another day.


A beggar gets
His next meal.
A patient that’s
Completely healed.
The ocean with
Its shades of blue.
The sky with
A many hue.


Everywhere
And every day,
Miracles happen
In every way.
You don’t have
To travel far—
Just look around
And there they are.


You can find the poem here.

Thanks for reading,
JD

Our first occupational therapy session

Last week I made an appointment with an occupational therapist because I wanted to get AngelicA assessed on her fine motor skills development and areas we need to work on. Besides, the developmental pediatrician who had done her developmental assessment had suggested that we start Angel on occupational therapy. So yesterday, we made the short trip to the early intervention center to meet the occupational therapist.

Initially, when we got there Angel started fretting a bit and was clinging to me. She does this quite often now. But once the therapist gave her some beads, blocks and other stuff to play with, she got comfortable and played while we chatted about her.

He told me to show her how to string some beads and Angel caught on quite quickly. After a while, he told her to put the blocks back into the box and she did as she was told. He told her to stack some cups and she did that too. But after a bit Angel was distracted and wanted to play with Elle, somehow whatever her sister's doing always seems more interesting so she scampered over to Ellie.

All the while, this therapist kept observing her and making notes. I wasn't sure what he was making of it. Until all of a sudden he asked me - Is she always like this? And I was a bit puzzled. Like this? Excuse me, like what? And then he asked me again, is she always hyperactive? I just didn't get it. Among all the kids in our extended family, Angel is the most placid and amiable. Yes, she has started jumping around like a little monkey now that she can stand without support and climb pretty well, but don't all children do that? I told him so but he still insisted that OT will help us to address her hyperactivity!!! Can you believe that? So that remained a moot point in the course of the assessment.

At the end of the assessment, he said that he doesn't see too many issues with her but because she has 'a condition' it would help to get her started on OT so that she is able to reach her milestones more or less in line with typical kids. He suggested that we do some of the exercises at home with her. I had already started getting her to do a few things like coloring with crayons and playing with beads. I've been showing Angel how to unzip and zip up the zippers on cushions to help her develop a more mature pincer grasp. And sometimes she pulls down the cushions so she could go at it herself. Now I'm looking for some peg boards that could possibly be as useful.

I've picked up some suggestions from About Down Syndrome and listed them here.

- Picking up small items (i.e. uncooked macaroni, cheerios, etc. and putting in cups or bowls.)Always, always stay with your child when doing this and make sure he does not put these items into his mouth.
- Putting together snap lock beads
- Manipulating puzzle pieces ( the kind with the pegs for picking up the pieces)
- Brushing or combing his hair (or yours, but beware, he might get overzealous!)
- You can give your child a crayon and piece of paper and let him go at it (make sure to supervise this activity)
- Alternatively, a magna doodle might do the trick
- Peg boards

Another interesting article on Bright Hub recommends that toddlers should be encouraged to use the index finger and grasp tiny objects as they engage in the following daily activities:
- Point during finger play songs
- “Paint” with the index finger in whip cream
- Put small pieces of crackers inside large container openings
- Stack blocks
- Put large pegs in or out of a board

The article goes on to say that two-year-old children are ready to practice the following fine-motor activities that will develop these skills:
· Stringing large beads
· Putting objects inside containers/ dumping them out
· Opening food wrappers
· Opening and closing lids such as the top of a band-aid box


Pic source: Brighthub.com

Suggested activities for three and four year old children include:
· Opening and closing squeeze clothespins
· Using toy pliers to move around objects
· Opening or closing screw caps
· Winding up toys

I would love to hear from you about all that you have been doing at home to develop your child's fine motor skills. Please do write in to littlemommysunshine@gmail.com.

Thanks for reading,
JD