Our beautiful son, Tyler, was born premature at 29 weeks.  He weighed 4 lbs 4oz.  He stayed in the NICU for an additional 6 weeks.  He progressed very well in the hospital, so it was a complete surprise to us and the doctors when a head ultrasound revealed a grade III brain bleed, as well as, conditions that could lead to Cerebral Palsy.  Traditional forms of therapy began for Tyler.  Only time would tell.

 

When Tyler was 2 yrs old, we moved to Colorado and had him evaluated at the Children's Hospital.  It was then that they confirmed a diagnosis of Cerebral Palsy.  We continued therapy but weren't really seeing a lot of progress.  A relative of ours saw a segment on "60 Minutes" about Conductive Education and told us about it right away.  It opened up a whole new world for us and Tyler.  We began consulting with a "conductor-teacher" through phone and video, since Colorado at the time didn't have a center-based program.

 

Tyler has been doing Conductive Education now for about 5 years.  It has not only increased his core strength to sit, stand and walk, but has given him the self-confidence to know that he can achieve independence.  He loves going to class and has a great time interacting with his friends and the staff.  We are tremendously blessed to have the teachers that we do, who care for our kids and truly want them to succeed.  For us, CE has taught us to release some of that control that we feel, as parents of special needs kids, and let Tyler reach for the stars in a way only he can!!!