Big response to call for special help

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 12, Issue 540, 14 June 1994, Page 2

Big response to call for special help

By

Michele

Monaghan

A recent advertisement asking for help for two-year-old Jaudyn Dunn who has cerebral palsy has prompted a large response from the Waiouru community. Jaudyn 's mother Dee called for volunteers to help her teach her daughter to walk and now has 1 1 volunteers. Jaudyn has been put on an adaptation of the Doman Delacato programme featured on programmes such as 20/20 and 60 Minutes. Dee turned to Australian lan Hunter in what she said was a last resort. Mr Hunter adapted a programme for Jaudyn that Dee said seems to be working. "Some things we've changed, like you're sup-

posed to go from loud noises to soft, loud noises like pot lids". Dee said she found this was scaring Jaudyn and has changed to soft noises. The programme is not as drastic as some seen on television, "but it's still intensive, repetitive work," said Dee. Jaudyn' s programme involves, noises, touches, light and gravity. Activities to stimulate the brain as well as the body, activities to give her some sense of balance. At the moment she is being put through two 20minute sequences in the morning and two in the afternoon. "If we can get up to three that's good," said Dee. As Jaudyn gets older (and heavier) things will have to

be stepped up and equipment purchased, such as a suspension frame for swinging Jaudyn by her feet. Volunteer Lesley Sole is very enthusiastic. Terrific "It's terrific, we're just so proud, I've noticed a definite improvement injust one week." "If you ' d seen her a couple of weeks ago or even a month ago, you wouldn't think she was the same child," said Dee. "She was very unsociable". Dee and her husband Craven have travelled around New Zealand seeking advice and treatment

for their daughter. "I want to give her something, something like for her to be able to pick up a piece of bread," said Dee. What may be classed as radical treatments have been explored. Dee's pain was obvious while watching a video of Jaudyn screaming while receiving pressure point treatment called Vojta therapy. "We thought we were doing the right thing, but looking back...". In that instance Jaudyn ended up in hospital the next day with chest complications, she was there for 10 days.

The Dunns heard about Mr Hunter through a naturopath in Hastings and will be meeting with him in six weeks to monitor progress. Jaudyn' s cerebral palsy is complicated with hypotonia, meaning that the brain is affected. Medical experts won't be able tell how badly Jaudyn is affected until she is older. Jaudyn has been through many tests including a CAT scan. Jaudyn suffers from bronchitis which because of her weak chest muscles, easily complicates to pneumonia.