hello

[Guest guest]

Hi,I am a relatively new member.  I've been reading the posts here and trying to learn what I can, though I often feel as if I have walked into the middle of a conversation and don't know what's going on or how to make sense of it.  I am just beginning my education into this area.  I find it all very interesting.

I joined to learn more about energy healing modalities to help address my son's challenges.  He was born with cerebral palsy and over the years we have received other diagnoses of scoliosis, non-verbal learning disorder, ADD, leaky gut/gut dysbiosis, multiple food and environmental allergies and recently also been told that we should look into some genetic testing for explanations into some of his growth issues.

We have been to countless allopathic doctors over the years in various fields and explored several alternative medicine/therapies.  I've developed a general distrust in conventional medicine and we have increasingly adopted a more natural and holistic lifestyle as we learn more in our journey to help our son with his challenges.  Over the years, the alternative health practices we've explored have been in the areas of diet, physiology/biomedical, neurology/movement education, and structure, and now I am trying to explore the area of energy medicine as well.

If anyone has had experience in dealing with clients with similar issues to my son, I would appreciate any input or pointers to resources, books, etc.  I am not looking to be spoon fed or have anything done for me.  I've spent years studying everything I can and I am grateful for all that my son has acheived and treasure his progress.  When he was born, the nurse told me that he would have problems for the rest of his life and would probably stop breathing during his sleep.  I called her the " doom and gloom " nurse.  The doctors told me that CP has no cure and that it was too early to tell whether he would be mentally retarded.  Other doctors told me there was nothing I could do to help his scoliosis, but I refuse to believe any of them.  My son at 8 years of age, despite his current challenges, is affectionate, charming, creative, imaginative, mobile, independent, sociable, and extremely bright.  Many people don't even realize he has CP and he exceeds grade level standards in all subjects and has been categorized as gifted.  I consider myself very lucky to have him as my son and I appreciate all that he has taught me.

When you have a child with special needs, you get pulled in so many different directions and trying to research it all can be so overwhelming, but I do the best I can and try to take training as resources allow.  Our days are quite full with numerous therapy appointments and homeschooling, but I try to work in social opportunities as well so that he can enjoy being a child!  I spend hours cooking due to his special diet and any other " free " time I have after he sleeps I spend trying to do research.  One of my passions is to help other families with special needs children as well.  I don't have clients and don't want any (my one full-time client is my son : ] ), but I moderate some free parent support groups in the hopes that I can help them on their journey to help their children.  I try to point them to resources and educate them about some of the things I've learned so that they can explore alternatives and hopefully help their child.  It's all very draining, but the rewards I see as I watch my son grow each day and to know that I can give back to the community is immeasurable.

If anyone has any tips on how to accomplish more on even less sleep or have more energy in the day on very little support, I'd appreciate that as well!  =)Valerie