OT, Splints, and Tape

Last week was Weslie's first Occupational Therapy appointment. We were referred to this particular occupational therapist from several of our doctors and friends...and have been completely amazed at the changes we are seeing already.

Last Thursday, they brought Weslie in and had her play and crawl while the therapist looked on and watched Weslie's movements. While there, they gave us one splint and made another for Weslie to wear for the week. They are pictured below:

The one of the left is called a "Joe Cool" splint. It goes around Weslie's wrist, then the red loop goes around her thumb helping it to stay out away from her palm. This is used with the hope that Weslie's brain will remember where her thumb is supposed to be...and when we take it off, she will hold her thumb out normally instead of having it stuck into her palm. Weslie has to wear this splint all the time...except for sleeping, baths, and when she has the other splint on.

The second splint (on the right) is one that the therapist actually made specifically for Weslie from scratch. They started with a tracing of Weslie's hand and ended up with what you see above. This one is called her "weight-bearing splint." The bottom part is hard like a cast and is shaped to her hand and the straps help to hold her fingers out and straight while she is crawling. We have to put this on her twice a day and get her to crawl around in it. (Right now we are using it in the morning while I am getting ready for work...as Weslie tends to "chase" me around the house as I am getting everything together, and at night while the boys are playing and she is movin' and grovin' to get in on the action.) This splint is used with the hope that her fingers will "remember" to extend out while she is putting weight on her hand (like when is is crawling) instead of being bent and closed as she normally keeps it.

So we left last week with both splints and hope that these two devices would help Weslie's hand and brain to figure out how to behave normally. Below you can see pics of Weslie wearing the Joe Cool splint...

...in this one you can really see how the red loop goes around her thumb...

...and here she is showing us how the loop helps her thumb stay out...Thanks Wes!!!

...and just for your pleasure...here is Kade showing his hand too...

So we went back this morning for another OT appt...and to see if any of the splint work was transferring over to Weslie's hand (when she isnt wearing the splint.) And IT IS WORKING!!! Her thumb is staying out more and more...she is using the thumb to help grab things...and she is starting to extend her fingers while crawling. We have to keep wearing the splints...but so far, they are working.

Also at the appointment today, Weslie's therapist brought in another OT to take a look at Weslie's movements while crawling...as Weslie is turning her hand in toward her body instead of having her fingers pointed straight out in front. This therapist is certified in kinesio taping (this is where they use tape to activate the muscles in a particular way...specifically to get Weslie's hand to face forward instead of in toward her body...also this is the stuff that Keri Walsh, the Olympic volleyball player, wore on her shoulder...that black tape) and decided that Weslie WOULD benefit from a taping. So they taped Weslie from her bicep around her shoulder and onto her back...and it immediately worked!!! We had Weslie crawling all over the place just watching in amazement at how it immediately made Weslie's fingers point straight. Now the hope is that by wearing this tape, Weslie's brain will learn that her fingers need to go out straight and not in. So Weslie will wear this set of taping until it falls off, or Sunday night (when we will need to take it off manually.) Then, next Tuesday, they will reapply another round of tape to continue to help Weslie's brain to learn where her fingers need to be.

So....for now, we are just making Weslie wear her splints and trying to get her to use those fingers, thumb and arm as much as possible. It is incredible the difference just in the last 5 days of using the splints. I cant wait to see what progress she makes with the tape. I am slowly starting to realize that with the help we are receiving and the awesome doctors and therapist we were recruiting, that our baby girl will be able to function normally and without alot of lasting effects from her stroke.

Thank you Jesus...You are good!!!