Meet Rueben - ABM Lessons- Cerebral Palsy / Epilepsy /Hydrocephalus

Michelle Wheatley
Jun 8, 2024
2 min read

Hi Steph, tell us about Rueben.

Rueben has complex medical needs. He was born at 23 weeks weighing just over 700g. He had bilateral grade 4 hemorrhaging, causing hydrocephalus.

Rueben is also epileptic, he has life threatening seizures where he can stop breathing. He has more recently been diagnosed with cerebral palsy affecting all 4 limbs.

Tell us about any therapies you do with Rueben and things he enjoys?

Rueben has lots of different therapies, he receives occupational, speech and language, physio and hydrotherapy through White Lodge Centre. Shooting Star Hospice also offer him hydrotherapy.

We try to give him access to as many things as we can, he has recently tried out SPICE Special People on Ice, an ice skating group where his grandad volunteers. He loved being pushed around the ice in his adapted pushchair.

We regularly attend Sebastian’s Action Trust family sessions on the weekends to make friends and play with other children with additional needs.

But we try our best to do all the fun childhood experiences too, so we love a trip to a farm or a zoo. We visit Chessington World of Adventures where he loves the Gruffalo ride or the aquarium. Rueben’s favourite is Legoland, he loves watching the pirate show and waving his flag and enjoys a ride on the Legoland Train where he can stay in his adapted pushchair in the wheelchair carriage.

How did you find out about ABM®?

I found Anat Baniel method after following another family on Instagram. They had been sharing some success stories about their child and I felt drawn in to finding out more.

I ordered a copy of Kids Beyond Limits and got reading. It made so much sense in my mind, I started trying to implement some of the ideas into our day to day life at home.

Is this the first time that Rueben has had ABM® lessons?

Yes.

What changes have you noticed after the lessons?

Since working with Michelle we’ve seen some wonderful changes. He has started to use his spine more, he is able to curl inwards and extend outwards helping him to track his toys better when playing.

Before his right hand was often stuck in a fist and took lots to coax him into using it, but he is becoming increasingly confident moving the arm and opening his hand.

Side sitting was a particular problem for Rueben, with so much external hip rotation it caused him huge discomfort. This has greatly improved, he is far more tolerant of internally rotating his hips.

(Other firsts seen during the ABM lessons) Rueben tried to stand while watching TV with his grandad, he had both feet on the ground and leaned against him for support! He leant on both arms when focusing on a toy on the table, rather than falling forward he caught himself with his arms. He also lifted him bottom off the table. First times ever!