Update on Ashley

A while ago, I introduced you to a little girl that I have the pleasure of doing physical therapy with! She is a sweetheart and such a hard worker. Her name is Ashley and she is almost 5 years old. She has Cerebral Palsy which affects her ability to use her arms and her legs efficiently. She also has poor trunk control which makes balancing quite difficult for her. She has been working very hard on her sitting balance and her control of her hands and arms. When we first started, she had a very difficult time picking up anything, holding anything, or manipulating any object. Now, she is able to pick up blocks and put them in a container with each hand. She still needs some minor postural cues from me, but her control has improved greatly!

Just last week, I received in the mail a clear plastic device that goes around her hand to help her hold crayons, spoons, or any other "tool". So, I asked her caregiver if she feeds herself, and she says not by herself and not with a spoon. She can use her hands, but not a spoon. So, we worked on it, and for the first time, Ashley fed herself cheerios with a spoon! It wasn't the prettiest maneuver ever, but I gave the device to her family and they are using it at home! She was so excited to gain some independence! So, then we tried the crayon, and she loved every minute of "drawing on the paper"! I am happy that such a simple device can bring such joy to a little girl!