Rosie's Progress
Rosie's Classroom
We started fundraising, built a classroom in the garden and Rosie began her home program mentored by the Growing Minds team.
When we started the program, Rosie would sit in the classroom grinding her teeth and wringing her hands. We didn't know if she understood a single word we said because she ignored requests, could only say about 3 words in total and couldn't co-ordinate her limbs to get into a chair, feed herself or do anything functional... we were starting from scratch.
What she did have, remarkably, was an amazing ability to reach through her world and show love to others. She was tactile, affectionate and loving. On her own terms she could connect with people in her unique way.
We began working intensively with her for 5 hours a day, 5 days a week, in the classroom in the garden and for the first time in her life she began to make progress.
Rosie in the classroom with Kara
Now 10 months on she has made what her paediatrician describes as 'quite unprecedented progress'. Every day she makes small steps in the right direction. She has said over 100 words and has even counted to ten!
She can also now carry out simple requests, feed herself, build a block tower and is physically more confidant, smiley and full of joy. She has also only had 3 episodes of fitting in a whole year.
Rosie with Andy her Dad and Grace, her little sister
On Rosie's 4th birthday she could not speak at all, had 9 fits in a row and missed the whole thing. On her 5th Birthday she sang "Happy Birthday dear Rosie" - you can't put a price on that.
Now we are optimistic about Rosies future: if we keep taking steps in the right direction who knows what the future holds?