At one point a pediatrician commented that the American College of Pediatricians does not endorse the patterning method. These are the exercises we are doing with Brian on a daily basis that we believe to be helping. We were tempted to comment on the method that does seem to be implicitly endorsed. The go- home-there’s-nothing-you-can-do method. We didn’t say this of course, it would have been unkind and the comment was well meaning but a bit ridiculous given the circumstances.

We have seen other children make surprising progress after their parents and/or caretakers have initiated the brain rehabilitation exercises. We believe there hasn’t been enough good research using these techniques to draw any scientific conclusions, however we also believe that hundreds of individual case histories support the efficacy of these techniques that can be done at home with the help of volunteers.

We also believe that somehow being hopeful even under the worst of circumstances is good medicine. While you need to be truthful you also need to be aware of the nacebo effect. Research shows that, similar to the placebo effect, but with quite the opposite results, the nacebo effect influences outcome. This has to do with the fact that making a negative prediction increases the likelihood of a negative outcome. (For more on this check out some books by Larry Dossey, M.D ).

Please do not scoff at the notion of food and other environmental sensitivities.   We believe that getting Brian off of his traditional tube feeding formula and onto a wholesome, non allergic (for him) formula with extra nutrients added, saved his life. I will not go into the negativity that we endured in our efforts to get help from the traditional medical community in finding a new formula.

You might want to check out some of the non-alternative information sites on brain injury and coma. Some of these could be helpful to parent’s of brain injured children while waiting in the hospital or when first returning home.

Also, the New Vision web site on oral feeding is practical and helpful.

Most of all, we received excellent care, compassion and concern from the Physicians, Nurses, Hospital Social Workers and others who cared for Brian at the Children’s Hospital. We thank you for this from the bottom of our hearts and pray that you remain the caring people you were when we needed you most.

God Bless