Bailie

Location: PA, USA
E-Mail: bailiemarie2001@yahoo.com
Web: http://www.tlcontact.com (carepage name: bailiemariezilli)
Phone: 724.836.4409
Age at time of accident: 23 months
Date of accident: June 30, 2003
Where accident happened: Babysitter's Pool
Therapies tried:

PT/OT/SP/Developmental

Vital Stim

Watsu

Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT)

Baclofen Pump

Botox

Magnet Therapy

Light Therapy

Cranial Sacral Therapy

Hippotherapy

Bailie's Story:

It has been over 3 years since my daughter nearly-drown and it has been a journey of great sorrow and joy. Bailie had no vital signs until after she arrived at the E.R., she coded again on the flight to Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh. We had already been informed that she might not make it and if she did she would be severely brain damaged. We wondered what kind life was ahead for our sweet golden haired child. All that we could be sure of was that we would love her and that we would give her the best life possible.

we spent two months in the PICU and three months at a rehab facility, The Children's Institute. While in the PICU, Bailie got a button and fundo and had a baclofen pump implanted. The baclofen pump made a tremendous difference. While it didn't fix her tone instantly, she now has full range in all her limbs (this is amazing since she was stiff and arched in a backwards c-shape for over a month). At rehab, Bailie started Vital-Stim, and within a few days she was swallowing (the goal of the intervention) but more importantly she was laughing and smiling. That was the best day of my life.

Bailie has acquired a lot more skills since coming home from rehab and we expect her to continue to progress. Currently she can take unassisted steps in a gait trainer( but doesn't use it functionally yet); she can pedal an adapted tricycle and she can use a touch screen computer with assistance and can use a switch on the computer without assistance. Her head and trunk control continue to improve as does her overall coordination.

Bailie has come a long way since her accident, but she still has a long way to go.

Nicole, Bailie's mom