In the event that you have a child or know of other children who have experienced a stroke (brain injury) I have a message of hope.
Healing our brain and body no longer has to be out of reach to us.
My experience with Brain Injury
I sustained an open and depressed skull fracture in an automobile accident in 1967 when I was 10 years old. I remained in a coma for 3 weeks with right frontal lobe damage, a severe brain bruise with brainstem involvement. I also fractured my left femur and was in a Spica (full body) cast for 5 months. To read about my process and journey growing up with and living with a brain injury, click here
Facebook Comment and Response
Yesterday, I received a comment from a Mom, whose 9-year-old son experienced a stroke. She shared in her comment that she reads all of my articles and shares parts of them with her son. In response to her comment, I wrote and published a response to the Facebook group under her comment.
After publishing my response, the comment and my response were deleted and I was told that the comment could not be posted or failed to post to the Facebook group. I am not sure why her comment and my response failed, but I feel led to share my response to her comment in this article.
My Response to Her Comment
“I am honored by what you wrote and shared with me. Please say hello to your son for me. Could I make a suggestion? Something that has helped me and continues to help me, may also help your son. I have been using repetitive mirrored movements to create new neural pathways and brain reorganization for many years. In the last several years the term neuroplasticity has been shared to explain the principle of creating new neural pathways and brain reorganization.
Several years ago I wrote an article Neuroplasticity, Small Successes and Learning/Relearning Skills and Skill Sets to share what has helped and continues to empower my brain and body. I also created a slideshow presentation of the article to share the information in a different format. Could I make a suggestion? Please watch the slideshow presentation with your son. As you watch the slideshow presentation you can stop and restart the slideshow presentation to discuss the contents of each slide with your son.
To watch the slideshow presentation of the article, click on the start button.
Please let your son know that it is OK to be discouraged at times. He is not alone. I have been discouraged too (and) still, find myself discouraged at times. What I have found is that the discouragement does not have to get in my way. Instead, I have learned that I can “dust” off the discouragement and keep moving, by trusting the process, a loving God, myself and by remembering that more will be revealed with time.
Below is a quote that reminds me to not give up on the process as more will be revealed with time.
“The journey of a thousand miles begins with the first step. Once we start walking, before long we will be able to look back and see how far we have come in our process and on our journey because we decided to not give up.” Craig J. Phillips MRC, BA
Little Successes will, in Turn, become Huge Successes with Time
Please also encourage your son to practice the principle of “progress, not perfection” in his process. Little by little he will create small successes, which in turn with time will become huge successes.
Confidence will grow with each skill and skill set learned. More will be revealed with time by not giving up on the process.
In the event that you would like to speak with me or have me speak with me or have me speak with your son, please let me know and we can set up a phone call. Thank you, Lisa.”
How I Use the Principle of Neuroplasticity to Create new Neural Pathways and Brain Reorganization
Below are links to short video presentations showing the progression of how the concept of neuroplasticity through repetitive mirrored movements has over time benefited my min, body and spirit.
I began my process using repetitive mirrored movements through different martial art disciplines in October of 1998.
In August 2013 a friend of mine made a video presentation of the progress that I made using the principle of neuroplasticity. Other friends have helped me to make video presentations of my progress in each year since 2013. Below are links to YouTube presentations of progress made using repetitive mirrored movements. To watch the progress made using the principle of neuroplasticity over the past 5 years, click on the below links.
Neuroplasticity through Martial Arts Disciplines August 2013
Neuroplasticity Demonstration August 2014
Brain Injury, Neuroplasticity and Personal Gains August 2015
Balance and Coordination through Repetitive Mirrored Movement 2016
Brain Injury Recovery and Repetitive Mirrored Movements 2017
Improving Our Brain and Body’s Ability to Excel after Brain Injury 2018
The Process
In my experience, creating new neural pathways and brain reorganization did not come overnight. The process has and continues to take a “bazillion” repetitions using repetitive mirrored movements (on both my dominant and non-dominant side of my body) to learn new skills and skill sets. Although the process took and continues to take time a lot of time the benefits have been well worth the time, effort and commitment.
Another lesson that I learned through my journey and in the process of developing new neural pathway and brain reorganization is summed up in another quote.
“What you get by achieving your goals is not as important as what you become by achieving your goals.” Zig Ziglar
For Parents whose Children have Experienced a Stroke or Brain Injury
In the event that your child who has experienced a stroke or sustained a brain injury, I would invite you to sit down and watch the above slideshow presentation with your child. Stop and restart the slideshow presentation to discuss each slide with your child.
I would also invite you to encourage your child with what I shared with the Mom of the 9-year-old stroke survivor. The process of creating new neural pathways and brain reorganization may take time (lots of time, commitment, tenacity, and perseverance). Encourage your child to not give up and to practice the principle of progress, not perfection.
Confidence will grow with each skill and skill set learned. More will be revealed with time by not giving up on the process.
In the event that you would like me to speak with you or your child, please let me know and we can do so by phone.
In the event that I can answer any questions or you would like guidance in the process of using repetitive mirrored movements, please let me know by leaving a comment. All questions are good questions and welcomed. I look forward to hearing from you.
You have my permission to share my articles and or video presentations with anyone you believe could benefit, however, I maintain ownership of the intellectual property AND my articles, video presentations and eBooks are not to be considered OPEN SOURCE. Please also provide a link back to Second Chance to Live. In the event that you have questions, please send those questions to me. All questions are good questions. I look forward to hearing from you. More Information: Copyright 2007 -2018.
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