Weekly Therapy Update & More...

This week has been light on therapy with the holiday on Monday.  We've also had a situation with Raymond's one therapist, Stacey, that up until this point, I haven't shared.  I was unsure of her future with our family but we've finally made a decision concerning it this week.  I've also decided to share the incident with all of you. 

While I was in West Virginia with my brother and nephew, Chris and Ellie took turns watching the kids.  That Thursday Ellie was here and Raymond was scheduled to have therapy with Stacey.  Stacey was running late (as usual) and Ellie wasn't sure if she was coming.  So finally Stacey arrived at our house, almost two hours late, with a cardboard box in tow.  Inside the box was a tiny kitten she found on the side of the road.  After Stacey showed it to the kids, Ellie told her she could put it in the bathroom.  So she did and without washing her hands, continued working with Raymond.  So let me list some things about the situation that upset Chris and me.

• Why in the world would she stop to look into a cardboard box on the side of the road when she was already so late?
• She didn't wash her hands
• The cat could have been placed in our enclosed breezeway
• Feline Leukemia (we have two other cats and a dog who could get very sick)
• Feline Aids
• Rabies
• Fleas
• Lice
• Bacteria
• Worms
• Cat Scratch Fever (Yes, that's actually a real thing...not just a Ted Nugent song)
• She knows Raymond is medically fragile - that's one of reasons he still gets home-based therapy.
• Raymond has a G-tube.  It is an open wound which means the area is very susceptible to infection.
• We feel that Ellie should have never been put into that situation.
• Seriously, putting Raymond in this situation could have posed fatal if he were to get an infection - his system cannot fight things off like other children. 
• Unprofessional!
• IT NEVER CROSSED HER MIND THAT IT WAS A BAD IDEA TO BRING AN UN VACCINATED KITTEN INTO OUR HOUSE!!!

We've been stewing over those things/situations/scenarios, along with about 400 others, these past two weeks.  We were both very angry.  I spoke with Stacey the next day and told her I didn't want her to see Raymond until further notice.  She seemed unsure as to the reason why at first, and then it clicked.  She knew what she did was wrong.  A little too late if you ask me.  She stated that she had no excuse for her actions.  I was NOT happy.  (It didn't help that I was sitting in the hospital with my sick brother.)  So, in that conversation, I made her cry.  She had never seen (or heard I guess since we were on the phone) that side of me.  I consider myself a very nice and upbeat person but when it comes to any of our children, I will sting when I strike.  I'm protective of all of them but fiercely so over Raymond.  I didn't yell at her but I was extremely firm.  I asked her what in the world she was thinking, and she had no response. 

Shortly after that conversation, I called Stacey's boss, Carla, to discuss the situation with her.  She informed that she would get the reports from the ASPCA about the kitten.  She called a few days later and said the kitten had a clean bill of health which really eased our minds.  So then we had to decide whether or not to allow her to continue to see Raymond.  Chris said no.  I, on the other hand, was unsure if that was the right thing to do.  Stacey is very good with Raymond and he does love her.  So I thought about it foe a while longer.  On Tuesday, I called Carla and told her Stacey could start to see Raymond again with the stipulation that she start getting to our house on time.  I had let her tardiness slide up until this point because of her connection with Raymond.  Being late is one of my biggest pet peeves with people.  I think it is so rude to tell someone you'll be there at one time and show up an hour or two late.  This was a regular thing with Stacey.  She was getting to our house when Raymond should have been taking a nap.  It was throwing his entire schedule off.  Hopefully she is able to improve her time management.  I'm hopeful that sometime next year Raymond will be able to go and participate at the Berks County Intermediate Unit.  This will be a major transition for him.  I don't really want to switch Behavioral Specialist now and then again in a year.  The fewer transitions for Raymond the better.  Major changes like that can be so hard for him.  He gets attached easily.  I don't want him to have a major set back.    

Stacey will continue with Raymond next week.

What would you have done?  Do you think we made the right decision?

Here are the two therapy updates from this week...

"Raymond had a great session with me today despite the very hot temperature.  It was too hot to go outside today!  In the house he practiced right and left side sit seated between my legs while playing with toys to my right and left sides.  He worked on kneeling (supported) to play with the  hammer/ball toy.  Raymond raises to stand through 1/2 kneel with less waist support and with better form.  He stood on Tuesday 1 time out of 6 trials to reach for a ring.  Raymond is doing a better job keeping his legs out in front of him (verses a tight ring sit) while playing independently.  He steps on/off the small stool with ease."

-Lisa, Physical Therapist

05/29/2012

"Raymond was quiet today but played nicely and used many signs.  He enjoyed drawing with markers and imitated my gestures with sounds "ee", "oh" and "oo".

House and Keys - He imitated "ow" with house.  Used sign language to ask "Where are keys?"  and language bombardment.

Raymond spontaneously signed "cat", "bird" and said "woof" for dog.

Racetrack - He said "1,2,3 GO!""

-Kristen, Speech Therapist

05/31/2012

Until Next Time!
Lots of Love,