Montreal - Day 4

Another great day in Montreal!!! We had a good morning session although Abby is starting to get tired and feel the effects of a long week.

We did walking with schmata, steps in and off boxes and even this huge ramp creation about 3 panels long!! Abby did everything that she was asked to and quite well:) She even asks Ramon what they are doing next instead of asking when we are going home like last year.

This afternoon they once again tried to stand FREE on a panel. Once again, Abby amazed us and time after time stood on her own. The best one was for a count of 92!!! Wow!! She is really gaining balance and confidence. Ramon also told us that he really feels that she will walk free one day! Awesome!! He is thrilled with her progress:)

Tomorrow is our last day. 2 sessions with lunch and a little walk around Montreal in between. We hit the road for the long ride home after the last session and hopefully A&J will sleep for most of it!

It has been a great week, really more than we could have ever imagined. She has met soo many milestones and accomplished amazing feats. Thank-you Ramon for being as brillant and passionate as you are, thank-you Abby for believing that you CAN accomplish anything, and thank-you to our friends and family who make this all possible!

Next stop, Chile in the winter:)

Montreal - Day 3

The week is half over but it feels like we have accomplished a year's worth of confidence and milestones!!!

Tuesday and Wednesday were filled with great sessions!! We seem to be doing alot more balancing and walking with schmata than the boxes, but those little wooden creations still manage to work their way in there!!

Yesterday we ended the afternoon session with Abby walking for 245 steps with Ramon only 'guiding' her by schmata wrapped on each wrist. He then held the schmata, not Abby, and walked along behind her. We went so far we had to walk out of the room, down the hall and to the end of the Yaldei clinic!! It was awesome!!!

Today we had a good morning session and then we stopped for a 10:30 ice cream treat and a ride on the city bus (a first for Abby & Jack!) This afternoon we continued with Ramon and Abby amazed us yet again!!

He had Abby standing on a square board that was resting on 4 balls to create instability. She stood on top and while we thought he was just going to hold her ankles, he let go and held the board, not Abby! He even moved the board back and forth to create a bigger challenge. She stood, ON HER OWN, for a count of 43!!!! We were in shock!!! It was unbelievable!!! Then, she went on to do it again and again for counts of 20 to 40. The old Abby would have stood for maybe 3 seconds once and then refused to do it again. This is the new Abby!!

It has been a great 3 days and we still have 2 more to go!! 2 sessions tomorrow and a trip to the BioDome in between.

Again, thank-you for supporting this amazing opportunity!! Every penny is worth it!

Montreal - Day 1

We are back!!! The gang of us arrived on Sunday afternoon after a long drive to Montreal from Alliston. We settled into the hotel, had a swim and a easy dinner in the hotel apartment. We have a full kitchen, bedroom and living space. Small, but nice, especially since we are right downtown!! The hotel is right across the street from McGill University, on Sherbrooke, one street over from St. Catherine, the main street. We are 5 minutes from Yaldei, the clinic where Ramon is working out of.

Today was our first day of therapy. Our sessions are 9:30 and 4:30 each day. Today was fabulous!!!! It was great to see Ramon again and he certainly got us moving right away!!!

For the first exercise, he had me sit about 5 feet away from Abby and just said "Go to Mom". She walked, on her on, for 5 steps!!! It was amazing!!! A wobbly 5 steps, but 5 beautiful steps!!! We were overjoyed! What a way to start the week:) Now this doesn't mean that Abby is currently walking the streets of Montreal, but this is certainly a HUGE confidence boost and a glimpse at the future!!

We then kept going with standing at a wall with flat hands, a key milestone that we will keep striving for at home. Then steps at the wall with flat hands. Moved on to some boxes with support only from the schmata. Not a single tear!! Abby trusts Ramon completely!!!

Spent the middle of the day in the rooftop pool, relaxing and a little walk around the town to check out the surroundings.

The afternoon session was just a great! He is very impressed with Abby progress and feels that she is even stronger since Chile and he was able to do walking on pipes, which he could not do in Chile. We did more boxes, walking with schmata, walking up the ramp, and standing from 4 point squat. Again, no tears!!! Jack filled the time by creating his own exercise using ALL of Ramon's boxes!!!

It was a great day! Can't wait till tomorrow:) It is a great feeling to look forward to therapy!! He is brilliant and the relationship that Ramon and Abby have developed is one based on trust and confidence.

Stay tuned for more Amazing Abby:)