therapy

lizzie is the precious oldest girl in the house who has cerebral palsy.

there are definitely parts of living with a disability in Kenya that are frustrating...but we finally found what we think is a HIGHLIGHT for lizzie in her THERAPY.

since we are not in a big town like Nairobi it is difficult to find a quality, "think outside the box", therapist that doesn't just give "typical cp" therapy. we have great tools such as her stander (below) but without a great therapist it is difficult to increase her abilities...

but we found a great one! his philosophy is to teach those who are regular caregivers in order to give the patient VERY regular/constant rather than 3 hours a week.

so we have a lot of intense therapy sessions.

with the staff learning different causes, techniques and proper massage therapy

and it seems to be working! (typically the hand on the right is closed and arm is tight to the body)

and she's finally getting SPLINTS! yessss! this is the traumatic experience (for lizzie) of her getting fit for the splits. yes a strange man putting casts on your feet is pretty intense.

(please focus on the whole picture rather than my CRAZILY shaped feet which here look like should be put in splints as well...)

overall we are very hopeful that Lizzie is getting good, quality care (kenya style)

and though it kills me that she wont be blobbing, or ziplining, or wheeling through a regular school in the future for the season that we have her in our care she has the opportunity to participate in every activity and be the happy, joyful, beautiful girl she is!