REHABILITATION INSTITUTE OF MICHIGAN (RIM)
The day has finally arrived!


Josh and I (Sue) went to Detroit today for an evaluation at the Rehabilitation Institute of Michigan (RIM). Josh IS a candidate for their type of therapy. Their therapy is the next step after traditional therapy (which gets you efficient with the condition you are in. In Josh's case, Mary Free Bed got Josh efficient in a wheelchair). But now it is time for that next step - WALKING!!!

This therapy allows the therapist to work Josh's leg muscles so that new nerve pathways are created where the old ones have ceased to work. They call this "reorganizing" nerve pathways. Our bodies, brains, and nervous systems are quite amazing. They are capable of much more than anyone thought and these doctors and therapist are taking advantage of the body's untapped resources to help people to regain lost functions. This will not be a quick fix. This type of therapy takes lots of hard continuous work. Traditional therapy sessions are about 45-60 minutes long, two or three times a week. This therapy is three hours long, three to five times a week. It takes a major commitment. We will have to work something out with his school since he would have to go during school hours. Most likely he will have therapy in the afternoons (1-4 pm). And as I have mentioned before, the Institute has recently opened a branch in Rockford (just 20 minutes north of Grand Rapids) which provides a much closer facility for us to access.

Josh most likely won't start until January or later. He is on the waiting list. As soon as they hire more therapists, they will be able to get these patients off the waiting list and into therapy!

Josh wasn't shy and asked if he could try out this piece of equipment. It suspends Josh so that his legs don't have to support him. Then the therapist helped him move his legs in a "normal" walking fashion which would help reorganize his nerve pathways. In a regular therapy session Josh would be wearing leg braces. Josh has leg braces and a walker that he has used in therapy, but RIM has more hi-tech leg braces that actually "unlock" the knees when you would normally bend your knee during normal walking. Josh's braces stay locked at the knee until he is ready to sit down. We need a pair of those "expensive" hi-tech braces. They would be a better fit for "normal" walking. That has been Josh's goal from the beginning. He feels like someone is finally listening to him and letting him do the kind of therapy that he wants.

A therapist helping Josh. 

A therapist helping to move Josh's leg as he tries to "walk". 

Our medical case manager is trying out the Glider. It takes you from a sitting position up to a standing position. It allows you to move your legs in a normal walking pattern while the "knee holders" keep the knees from collapsing. I don't know all the correct technical terms, as you can see. 

The glider in the standing position. In this position your hands can push back and forth and your legs will move with it. This also helps to reorganize those nerve pathways.

This nifty machine will get Josh's muscles moving to help reorganize nerve pathways to get him walking again. The patient lays on his back and then reaches hands and feet up. The feet are strapped onto the pedals. As the hands pedal, the feet move as well. Interesting!

This piece of equipment suspends the paralyzed person and allows a therapist to help them simulate walking to get the legs moving in a normal fashion. Doing this over a period of time can help reorganize the nerve pathways and help the person to walk again. 

We met with Dr. Hinderer and Brian Sheridan (shown here with Josh). Another piece of equipment (behind) that Josh will most likely be using for therapy. 

The "Total Gym" is one piece of equipment Josh will probably be using during therapy.

Basketball
Josh had basketball games in Fort Wayne, Indiana this past weekend. The Jr. Pacers won two and lost one game. I saw great improvement in Josh's playing. He was getting into position quicker and started getting the hang of dribbling and pushing his wheelchair all at the same time. That is quite a task! He was playing a much more aggressive game than before. He is really enjoying being on the Jr. Pacers Varsity basketball team. It keeps him busy and physically active.

RIM Evaluation
Josh's evaluation will take place at the Rehab Institute of MI in Detroit on Thursday, Dec. 22, 2005. He will go through the evaluation to see if he is eligible, which he most likely is, and then they will devise a plan of therapy for him. Once that is done our physiatrist will look over the plan and give her approval (or disapproval) on all or some of it. Then once therapy starts, it will take place in Rockford. It most likely won't start until after the first of the year. We'll keep you posted!

Sue

GOOD NEWS
We saw Josh's Physiatrist (rehab Dr.) today and she gave permission for Josh to try the therapy that the Rehab Institute of MI has to offer. The evaluation will have to take place in Detroit, but he should be able to have his therapy sessions in their new branch in Rockford. Now we just have to send in the application and set up a 3-hour evaluation appointment and then we are on our way. We are so excited. This kind of therapy has been our goal since the beginning. It is finally going to happen. The therapists will work Josh's muscles that are paralyzed so that new nerve pathways will be made to replace the ones that were damaged. It makes so much sense.

We thank everyone who has prayed for this with us. The power of prayer is so awesome!!! We didn't know for sure what our doctor would say today since she has always said "no" when we have repeatedly asked for this therapy. So, I know your prayers made the difference.

From a very excited Holt household tonight, we say thank you for being there for us (in many different ways) through all of this. We covet your prayers and friendship.

Susan Holt