frequently asked questions
There are many unknowns that come with brain injuries. below are a few of the frequent questions we are asked.
The short version:
“Will Mikey be able to X?”
To which we usually say - we hope so. Given the severity of his injury, nothing is guaranteed, many of Mikey’s achievements already exceed what was expected.
CAN HE SEE?
Mikey has been diagnosed with Cerebral (cortical) visual impairment. CVI is a disorder caused by damage to the parts of the brain that process vision. It's most common in babies and young children, but can continue into adulthood.
CAN HE COMMUNICATE?
While Mikey is currently non-verbal, he has many other way that he communicates with us. We are working closely with his Speech-Language Pathologist (SLP), Occupational Therapist (OT) and Vision Therapist to help develop his communication skills. The biggest piece of communicating with him is allowing the time for him to respond; his body takes longer to respond to his thoughts than the neurotypical child.
IS HE MOBILE?
As a result of his injury Mikey has been diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy (CP). CP is a group of disorders that affect a person's ability to move and maintain balance and posture. Many people with cerebral palsy can walk on their own or with mobility aids like walkers or crutches.
As a result of CP Mikey is not able to crawl or rollover on his own; however, he has shown amazing progress walking with the aid of a Gait Trainer. We are continually working to improve Mikey’s mobility.
HOW DOES HE EAT?
While we are currently working with Mikey’s SLP and OT on developing the ability to swallow food by mouth, Mikey currently gets all of his calories via G-tube. A gastrostomy is a surgical procedure used to insert a tube, often referred to as a "G-tube", through the abdomen and into the stomach. Every day Christina makes Mikey a well balanced blend consisting of Organic Protein, Fruits, Vegetables and many supplements. He eats 180ml worth of the blend every four hours, and gets 120ml of water between each meal.
CAN HE HEAR?
He definitely can hear, close one door during a nap and you’ll know that for sure. What he is able to process will be easier to tell as his cognition improves.