Finding His Feet

Untitled from Katie on Vimeo.

During the last few months of therapy Gabe has made progress in many small ways.  It would be easiest to measure progress in big movements: rolling over, sitting up, pivoting, crawling, creeping, etc. Yet, we have learned to watch intentionally, and celebrate quietly (sometimes), the itty bitty milestones. 

One type of therapy Gabe is receiving is called the Anat Baniel method. The theory is that the parts of our body can be mapped to our brain through light, slow touch and movement.  In fact, they believe we all learn to move through random movements that are successful.   All movement is initiated by the spine, so they teach that rolling, sitting, crawling, standing, and climbing climb can all be learned from our most natural position - lying on our backs.  We believe with them that Gabe's brain has the ability to change and form new connections in place of some that may currently be missing.  His therapist works intentionally with the movements and abilities he is displaying, instead of prematurely pushing him into positions that accentuate his diability.

A major goal in our last 3 months at BRAINS has been to help Gabe recognize his feet and to be able to rock his pelvis and bend his spine enough to get his feet up to his mouth.  This is the "map" he needs to be able to sit correctly and to eventually get in and out of sitting on his own.  As you can see he is finally initiating this movement on his own and we could not be more pleased that Gabe is finding his feet.

If you are interested in reading more, Kelly, who is trained as a "traditional" therapist wrote about her experience with BRAINS and is now in the process of training to be an Anat Baniel therapist.

You might also enjoy checking out some great clips highlighting the changes in another cutie and the way he is moving.

6.10

{he may have missed Gavin's 1st day of 1st grade, but was more than happy to be there on his last}

6.6

{look who finally found his favorite toy toes}

The Great Gabe Escape Thank You

A year ago today we met with a specialist who confirmed what our doctor expected. We left his office with a new itinerary; we were destined for Spina Bifida. That same day you all began praying for our little traveler by name. Over the last year you have helped us put the wind back in our sails, the chugga chugga in our choo choo...okay, I'll stop.

While this is a journey Gabe will never get away from we are committed to taking every highway that might build on his potential. We will follow any road signs that encourage Gabe’s self determination. And at each rest stop we hope to leave a new sign pointing others to Him who deserves the glory for Gabe’s success.

We have already learned there are detours and even road blocks, but also interesting new sites to explore, beautiful fellow travelers, unexpected treasures, and amazing discoveries to make along the way!

Thank you all for sharing your time, your prayers, and your financial resources to help lighten our load. We can not thank you enough for your continued love for our family!

Thank you to Dan and Amanda for all of the time and thought they put into planning this event.  Everyone needs the kind of friends they are to us - those who will think outside of the box, those who look for opportunities to bless others, those who quietly clean up the messes instead of just pointing them out, those who are really real, those who make doing life together simple & fun.  We love you long time;)

{photo credit}

The "Fine Print" Thank Yous:

Food Donations:

Request Foods

Big Apple Bagel

Jimmy Johns

Shelby

Angie

Prize Donations (and winners):

{frames by Bloem and Grow}

Holiday Inn Express Holland (Kelly and Ryan & Kara and Scott)

Hampton Inn Holland (Sarah and Doug)

Lake MI Cottage (Gary and Diane)

Into the Woods (Nancy Rummel)

The Shack (Scott and Rachel)

Lia Sophia (Laura and Chuck)

West MI Whitecaps (Scott and Rachel)

Hudsonville Ice Cream (Jill and Marty)

McGuires of Cadillac (Sean and Amy)

Winding Creek Golf Course (Judy Cochran)

Ravines Golf Course (Jeremy and Annie)

Riverfront Cabin (Steph and Jeff)

Tupper Kids Party on the Go (Amy and Pete)

Hairbow-tique Bow Holder (Laura and Chuck)

Generous Donors:
Anderson
Bush
Ergang
Hamlin
Hostetler
Boerma
Frimodig
Rees
Price
Reitzel
Blackwell
Hopkins
Miller
Precourt
Ergang
Nyboer
Gorter
Volkers
Lokey
Kooyer
Bloemers
Cochran
Fuller
Conway
Hoekstra
Wojcik
Elderidge
Gavigan
Smith
Bateman
Schweri
Toole
Meyering
Coffey
Carlson
DeVries
Grzybowski
Henkel
Wagner
Bartlett
Balczak
VanderBoome
Kammeraad
Ergang
Klifman
Ergang
Riggle
Apothecar
Landes
Romero
Bloemers
Klifman
Rummler
Doren
Klifman
Eriks
Brouwer
Johnson
Gray
Martin
Speelman
Kapenga
Cordes
Brott
Heneveld
Kapenga
Smith
Foote
Heneveld
Goff
McBride
Henry
Snyder
Phothisan
Morasco
Van De Brake

The Great Gabe Escape

We are looking forward to celebrating friendship, hope, progress, generosity…

{love}

{support}

{and baby gabe}

…at tonight’s Great Gabe Escape!