Noriko - A Success Story

Noriko's brain injury occurred when she was seven years old. While playing in the schoolyard, she was accidentally hit in the head by a ball. She became unconscious and went into a coma that lasted for three days.

While her speech and intellectual abilities quickly returned, the right side of her entire body was seriously affected. Her right leg and foot were rigid, and as a result she walked poorly. She had little use of her right arm, and no use of her right hand, which became increasingly tight.

Noriko eventually returned to school, where she did well academically, but traditional physical therapy did not improve the use of her right side. Looking for answers, Noriko's parents took the What To Do About Your Brain-Injured Child Course in Japan.

Returning home, they initiated a program of creeping, crawling, patterning, masking, and reading. Fourteen months later, Noriko joined the Intensive Treatment Program and was evaluated in Philadelphia. Intellectually she was equal to her peers, but physically she could not ride a bike, hang from a bar, swim, or walk or run well. Her right hand was slightly less rigid, and she was beginning to use it a bit.

Over the next two years, Noriko's extensive program included her earlier activities plus brachiation, running, gymnastics, swimming, ballet, masking, respiratory patterning, and oxygen enrichment.

Noriko spend many hours on classical ballet and gymnastics, achieving many sophisticated skills using both sides of her body. The staff presented Noriko with the challenge of polishing off her few remaining problems by leading a normal life and continuing with a small physical and physiological program.

She returned to school with the goal of succeeding in all areas at age level.