This past fall, September 1, 2010 to be exact, Kelsey entered the Helen DeVos Childen's Hospital Intensive Feeding Therapy program. While Logan and Olivia went off to their school, Kelsey, with backpack in hand, went off to her school, "Feeding School". She has been completely dependent on G-tube feedings since she was 5 1/2 months old, but not anymore!!! She graduated from "Feeding School" on November 1st! She is completely independent of her G-tube!!! Yea Kelsey!!!!!! We're all so proud of her and Cheryl for all their hard work!!
She'll have to maintain her weight for 6-9 months before the doctors will remove her Gtube. The program Kelsey was in, is the first and only one of it's kind in Michigan, as well as only one of a handful in the whole United States. She received multiple feeding therapy sessions on a daily basis for eight weeks. The program offers a multidisciplinary approach to feeding therapy. Lead by a psychologist, the team consisted of speech and occupational therapists, a nutritionist, a medical doctor, physician's assistant, a social worker and of course, the parents. The goal was to improve eating through feeding sessions and behavior modification. Through all of the tantrums, fits, food refusal, spitting, throwing and everything else imaginable, the end result was all well worth the effort! Everyone remaining patient and calm, well, that was a tough one too! This program was a huge effort on everyone's part and it was truly a very grueling and trying time for Cheryl. We salute you Cheryl for your stamina and love for Kelsey to see it through!! You are an awesome mom!
Kelsey had entered the program eating mostly yogurt and would only eat in front of the television. Now, Kelsey eats at the dinner table with the rest of the family. She eats over 72 different foods and drinks her liquids from a squeeze bottle. There is every reason to believe that once she becomes more aware of the connection between hunger and food satisfaction, she will feed herself and initiate meal times. Until that time, there may be more time spent at the Helen Devos Feeding Clinic. But, for now, a huge milestone has been met. What a great accomplishment! Congratulations to both Kelsey and Cheryl! We love you!
