Izzy

Izzy first joined Helping Hemi Hands in early 2021, and what a journey it has been! Izzy, who has right-sided hemiplegia, had already made great progress at home with the help of her family before coming to us.

Since then, we've worked closely with her family and her local occupational therapists to build on those strengths and help her develop greater independence. In 2021, Izzy completed her first CIMT intensive, where we focused on:

• Improving her pincer grasp and increasing her ability to grasp and release objects.
• Developing supination with elbow flexion to support functional tasks.
• Building her confidence and ability to engage both hands for bimanual tasks like pulling apart and pushing together
  objects.
• Practicing functional skills like putting on socks and carrying trays.
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After the intensive, Izzy’s family joined our Online Membership Program, which they’ve continued to access ever since. Through regular Zoom sessions, online education modules, and our supportive community, Izzy stayed engaged and motivated. These sessions also helped her family feel confident and empowered to continue therapy at home.

In 2023, Izzy returned for a second CIMT intensive, where she made further strides:

• Grasp and Pincer Strength: Her grasp and release skills became fully integrated into her daily play, and her pincer grip
  became stronger and more refined.
• Bimanual Skills: Izzy progressed to using smaller and more difficult-to-manipulate objects, such as pulling apart LEGO
  pieces and practicing precise hand coordination.
• Supination: She continued to build on her supination with elbow flexion and is working toward gaining greater control
  of this movement in more challenging positions.
• Fine Motor Precision: Functional tasks like fastening buttons and handling less stable objects were introduced and
  practiced to improve her precision and control.
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Throughout the program, Izzy showed incredible focus and determination. Her ability to work through challenging activities improved, and we mixed play-based therapy with trickier movements to keep her motivated.

Today, Izzy has achieved so much:

• Dressing Independence: She can now dress herself, including putting on socks and zipping up her jacket.
• Bimanual Coordination: She confidently engages both hands for a variety of tasks and continues to improve her fine
  motor precision.
• New Goals: Izzy is now working on putting her hair up independently and cutting her food with cutlery—big
  milestones that will further boost her independence and confidence.
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The ongoing Zoom sessions through the Online Membership Program have played a key role in keeping therapy fun and engaging for Izzy. She loves connecting with her therapists and other families, and it’s wonderful to see how much she enjoys learning and progressing.