Ben's stay at Kokon (Rohrbach-Berg, Austria)

Written by Jeannine, Ben's mum

This year, Ben's rehabilitation took place in May at Kokon Rohrbach-Berg in Upper Austria. It's a great time of year to go for a walk in the fresh air, with less fear of infection. The therapists and staff gave us a warm welcome and everyone remembered Ben and his stay last year. Ben is a little ray of sunshine and radiates happiness. Our aims for this year, as last year, were to improve his muscle tone, improve his diet and incorporate speech therapy by looking at picture books and incorporating sign language in a playful way.

Since Ben turned two, he has made further progress on the cognitive front. During physiotherapy, he would start crying as soon as we walked into the room because he understood what he was getting into. During group therapy, he was in his element and could practise balancing on all fours on a large therapeutic swing, catching objects from a higher position while sitting up to bring his trunk into an upright position. We soon noticed how tiring the therapy routine was becoming for Ben, as he also needed two naps a day. We see his resistance to therapy as positive because it means he has learned to associate certain situations with a room or a therapist. He knows what to expect. This is a big step forward, and his irritation is a sign of his self-determination and autonomy.

Ben particularly enjoyed the hydrotherapy and relaxation in the water during physiotherapy. Specific exercises were shown that can easily be applied in everyday life, and the weightlessness helps Ben to feel his body in a different way, without having to constantly fight against gravity.

We also received a lot of information about the level of care and the new aids for daily living.

For us, the rehabilitation was a complete success, and we spent some wonderful, intense times with Ben. Alternating between mum and dad also enabled us to respond better to Ben's needs. His older sister was also able to take part in the rehabilitation stay according to her own wishes, or remain in her family environment and at the crèche.

We're already looking forward to the lasting effects of the rehabilitation and next year's holiday.