Lara’s Story - The Next Chapter
Lara is now 22 months old, she will be two on the 4th of June. When I read back on her original story twelve months ago I am amazed at how far she has come. She is now sitting up and rolling a lot, she can also pivot around on her stomach in a circle, especially when she wants to get to her favorite toys.
Lara’s fine and gross motor skills have also greatly improved; she is now using her hands reasonably well. Lara loves to play with toys that make sounds and play music. She is learning to feed herself finger food and loves to make a mess with toasty fingers.
We have a fantastic team of people providing us with support; Lara has a wonderful vision therapist Maria Lupton from the Royal Deaf & Blind Society who comes once a fortnight. Lara thoroughly enjoys these sessions and they have helped her develop both her vision and fine motor skills.
Lara has been attending Sylvanvale two days a week for the last term, she is enrolled in their early play sessions, which is early intervention through play therapy. It is a very intensive program consisting of physiotherapy, exercise therapy and hydrotherapy. Lara particularly loves painting and often comes home covered in paint. The teachers and therapists are all very caring and dedicated. We have noticed a huge improvement in Lara’s development since she has been attending Sylvanvale.
Lara also has a caring and truly helpful respite carer Louise from Wesley Mission who comes once a week, Lara enjoys her special time with Louise playing and doing exercises.
Lara’s favourite person is her brother Noah who is now nearly five, he makes her giggle with tickles and rumbles, she lights up when he comes in the room. Lara especially enjoys spending quality time with Nanny, Poppy, Grandma and Grandpa. She babbles a lot and says Dada and Papa, Noah and Lara. Her excitement is visible when you ask her if she would like food or a bottle.
Unfortunately Lara still has seizures approx one to three a day, these are very draining for her and she often sleeps for an hour after a seizure. Recently Lara had a six month period where she didn’t have any and that was a great help with her development, hopefully we will get more periods like this.
Even though Lara is not achieving milestones at a normal rate, we celebrate every time she achieves something new. Currently she is trying to crawl and we hope this is her next milestone.
Lara's Story from Birth
