Tag Archives: Rehabilitation Therapies
Life for Leo after a Selective Dorsal Rhizotomy Surgery
Dear Gillette Team,
We are thrilled to share what our son, Leo, has achieved in the past year. It is almost one year ago (March 28, 2012) since we traveled from the United Kingdom to Minnesota for Leo’s selective dorsal rhizotomy surgery. He is now walking independently indoors and we are totally thrilled about it!
The last year was, and still is, very intense. Leo has been doing physiotherapy five times per week with professional therapists. In addition, he is swimming, riding horses, bike riding and going to kindergarten.
Outside of therapy we took, and still take, every chance to make him work his muscles, from taking him swimming to Croatia, walking around Legoland, Windsor and Disneyland in Paris. He needs to be motivated constantly in order to keep up this intense regimen.
Leo is majorly into Star Wars now. He changed our names to R2-D2 (mom) and Chewbacca (dad). Leo calls himself C3PO and walks around with his light saber, especially when the physiotherapist knocks on the door! It is great to see him walk independently.
The selective dorsal rhizotomy surgery definitely was worth it. Leo is a confident and happy boy. He does not struggle with pain anymore, and his reduced spasticity gives him so much more energy for play, interaction and daily activities. Leo starts school in April and we are sure he will have fun.
Thank you for all your expertise, care, support, trust, knowledge and love.
- Nancy, Marc and Leo Pugliese
Meet Coral Karsky, Music Therapist at Gillette!
Meet Coral Karsky, a music therapist at Gillette! Music Therapy at Gillette can be used to decrease anxiety, help a child cope with a hospital stay, and reach rehabilitative goals. Click to watch the Music Therapy video.
Q. What are some of your hobbies outside work?
A. I like to spend time with my husband, Andy, cook, take walks around the lake by our home, and play in the band at our church. I also love to cheer for the Minnesota Twins.
- Meet Coral Karsky, Music Therapist at Gillette!
Q. Do you have any kids or pets?
A. No kids or pets just yet, but Andy and I hope for both in the future. In the meantime, we are fairly successful at taking care of our four houseplants.
Q. If you could choose a superpower, what would it be?
A. She’s not really a superhero, but I thought Mary Poppins had some amazing “superpowers”. Mostly, I just wanted the ability to snap my fingers and have my bedroom be instantly clean!
Q. What is your favorite book and food?
A. I have always enjoyed Christy by Catherine Marshall. My favorite food would have to be ice cream.
Q. If you could travel anywhere where would you go?
A. I would love to go to scuba diving or swimming with dolphins in Australia.
Q. What was your favorite subject in school?
A. English. I always enjoyed writing and reading interesting books.
Q. What is your favorite type of music or band?
A. This is a very hard question! I like all kinds of music. I grew up listening to the Beatles and James Taylor. Right now, some of my favorite bands include The Weepies and Gungor.
Q. Do you have a favorite story or memory from Gillette?
A. My favorite memories at Gillette usually involve a patient accomplishing a goal or task that previously had seemed so difficult to achieve.
Q. What do you enjoy most about your job at Gillette?
A. I love so many things about my job! I have fantastic colleagues and I appreciate the sense of team work and dedication that goes into patient care each day. I love that my job allows me to have fun and be creative in using music therapy to help our patients heal, cope, and achieve their goals.
Meet Erin Tauscher, Occupational Therapist at Gillette!
Our final Occupational Therapy Meet us Monday post is below. Today, meet Erin Tauscher an Occupational Therapist at Gillette!
Q. What are some of your hobbies outside work?
A. I like going to spin classes, going to concerts, trying new foods/restaurants, going kayaking/canoeing, and traveling. Really anything that is adventurous.
Meet Erin Tauscher, Occupational Therapist at Gillette!
Q. Do you have any kids or pets?
A. Not yet. I have a goddaughter, Cecelia, which is the closest I have to my own child (yet so far away). My parents have a yellow lab named Molly. I would like to get a puppy, but it depends on where I’m living next year!
Q. If you could choose a superpower, what would it be?
A. Hands down it would be Instant Teleportation. If I could just think about where I wanted to be and could get there that would be great.
Q. What is your favorite food?
A. My favorite food is Tikka Masala from Gorkha Palace in Northeast Mpls or Rama Thai at Navaya’s Thai Brasserie in Linden Hills.
Q. If you could travel anywhere where would you go?
A. Right now it would either be Brazil or Argentina. Those will probably be my next big trips. Then it will be subject to change after that.
Q. Favorite kind of music or band?
A. I love all kinds of music. Currently, I’ve been on a more electronic/upbeat kick. Right now, my favorite bands are Metric, Little Dragon, Cold War Kids, Bon Iver, and Polica. Has anyone heard of those bands? Let me know, we should talk
Q. Favorite subject in school?
A. Math and science until I got to college. Then anatomy with cadaver lab!
Q. Who did you admire when you were a kid?
A. My brother. He’s 2 years older and I followed him around like a shadow.
Q. Do you have a favorite story or memory from Gillette?
A. I’m fairly new to the Gillette Team, but I’d say my favorite memory is when an 11 year old patient met me and said “oh I though you’d be prettier”. Guess I was having more than just a bad hair day.
Q. What do you enjoy most about your job at Gillette?
A. The diversity, challenge, and support. It’s really been great!
Rehabilitation Therapies: Up and Running!
About a month ago, we told you about the opening of our St. Paul skyway that connects Gillette’s existing clinic with our new patient-care building. The top floor, housing offices for our physicians and CEO, Margaret Perryman, also opened. But until today, the building’s patient-care space — including our Center for Pediatric Rehabilitation and Center for Gait and Motion Analysis — remained under construction.
That changed today, with the opening of beautiful new space for children undergoing inpatient and outpatient rehabilitation therapy. Large treatment rooms are filled with natural light and state-of-the-art equipment — the perfect environment for kids to take their first steps, say new words, and gain independence. Private rooms — many with live Web cams — minimize distractions during therapy sessions, and allow parents to watch their child’s session from the waiting area.
Our new rehabilitation therapies space is attracting lots of attention (and excitement!). But there’s one thing kids, parents and even staff are especially interested in checking out: a large tank housing delicate saltwater seahorses. Want to see for yourself? Take a look at the photos below.
With rehab therapies open for business, construction crews are busy completing construction of Gillette’s Center for Gait and Motion Analysis, on the new building’s lower level. It’s expected to open in early January of next year.
Rehab Therapies waiting space is both adult- and kid-sized
Rehab Therapies gym, equipped and patient-ready!
The rehabilitation gym overlooks our skyway and St. Paul Clinic.
Look closely: can you see the two seahorses?
An occupational therapy room, equipped with a play kitchen for therapy exercises.
