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Liamsmom 
Okay so the psychologist really thinks Liam does not need her services, yet. So, I am going to get a second opinion. Of course as the school year is about to end I am going to simply wait until summer vacation. However, I did have, what is called an "IEP" meeting with the people from the school district to discuss Liam. IEP = Individulized Education Plan. I got to meet with the school psychologist and she agrees with me in getting Liam a second opinion. However, she does think the other psychologist had it right when she thought we should get family therapy started to learn how to deal with Liam's diagnosis. I also met with both physical therapists, (gross and fine motor skills), his speech therapist and his teacher. They all said the same thing. Liam's disease is rapidly progressing and they have stopped setting goals for him because he is no longer meeting the ones they had previously set up. They said he is very sweet and tries so hard. That he is competitive with his peers, not an, "I can do it better," kind but rather an, "if you can do it I can do it," type of competitiveness. But the physical (gross) therapist is recommending that I talk to his neurologist about the need for a wheelchair already. Now, I am okay with this, granted kids with A-T don't usually need a chair until 9 or 10, but I am okay with this. Why? Well, because the degrading of the cerebellum isn't what kills them. Its the secondary issues of lack of an immune system and cancers like Lymphoma and Leukemia that do. So far his immune system is spectacular and he has no sign of either cancer. So if his muscles are degrading faster than normal I am fine with that, so long as he isn't sick. Does that even make sense? Anyway, his appt with his neurologist isn't until June 1st. At that time I will bring in all the paperwork from his IEp which will include all the recommendations from the therapists and we'll se what the doctor has to say. He may say no. Or he may say yes but only for long walks. Personally, I am a little afraid that if Liam gets the chair, it might discourage him from continuing to try as hard as he has been. So I told the therapists that even if the doctor says yes to the chair that I still want Liam in physical therapy. They said they agreed and its in his IEP that no matter what, he'll get the PT he needs next year. They want to continue because, while they don't feel they can set new goals for him, they want to make sure that he keeps up the strength that he already has, for as long as possible. So, I guess that's it, for now. I'll fill in more when I have more to inform you on. Thanks for listening.
