My Story
As a young mother, I was dealt a tough hand. At twelve days old, my daughter contracted spinal meningitis and nearly died. Thankfully, she survived, but her brain was injured. This left her at risk for seizures and a host of other developmental problems and learning disabilities. She was easily confused, forgetful, and prone to emotional meltdowns. As she struggled to keep up physically and academically with her peers, I struggled with not knowing what to do to help her.
Back then, I believed that her problems were somehow my fault. So, not only did I feel helpless, I also felt guilty. My heart saw her with the perfection of a mother’s love, but my eyes saw her failing. It was heartbreaking to think that she would never be able to do what the other kids could do: be independent, successful, and happy.
Then, I learned that my daughter’s problems were normal for kids who are neurologically disorganized. It was not my fault. It was the meningitis that hurt her brain as a baby. Her problems were predictable and normal according to where her brain had been injured. And, I learned that there was something I could do. There were steps I could take to help organize her brain. Once her brain was organized, she would be much more able to use it successfully to do what she needed to do – to read, write, remember, learn.
Back then, I believed that her problems were somehow my fault. So, not only did I feel helpless, I also felt guilty. My heart saw her with the perfection of a mother’s love, but my eyes saw her failing. It was heartbreaking to think that she would never be able to do what the other kids could do: be independent, successful, and happy.
Then, I learned that my daughter’s problems were normal for kids who are neurologically disorganized. It was not my fault. It was the meningitis that hurt her brain as a baby. Her problems were predictable and normal according to where her brain had been injured. And, I learned that there was something I could do. There were steps I could take to help organize her brain. Once her brain was organized, she would be much more able to use it successfully to do what she needed to do – to read, write, remember, learn.
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So, I went full steam ahead into learning everything I could about a developing brain and implemented a full-time program of neurological organization for my daughter. All day, every day, for years, I got up with a single intention – to complete the checklist of activities that would allow her brain to grow to its full potential. And in this process, I saw first-hand just how resilient a developing brain can be. I discovered for myself exactly what a child’s brain needs to fully develop and what kind of environment is conducive to that.
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I took steps to correct my daughter’s vision, and now she can read with ease. We corrected her hearing, and now she can focus, understand, and remember. I changed her diet, and she continues to enjoy good health, energy, sleep, and learning abilities. And I am overjoyed to share that today my daughter is attending a Big Ten University, studying nutrition science and entrepreneurship. (Read more about that here.)
Now I am on a mission to share what I know with every parent I meet – that these principles of child brain development are not just for kids who have been diagnosed with a brain injury, but for every kid!
I want to give every child the opportunity to become as capable as they can be, but especially those who struggle alone because they are only mildly neurologically disorganized. In these cases, their parents and teachers are often baffled that these kids are so bright, yet have consistent problems. They seem so smart in so many ways, but struggle to read, write, and learn with the same ease as their peers. These problems are not mysterious at all, rather they are an indication that the brain is not working as it should. But we can fix that. I know how.
For the last 20 years, I have been applying what I know about the brain to help kids overcome their learning struggles. Most of these kids, sadly, have decided that they are just not as smart as their friends, that there is something wrong with them. Well, I’m here to say:
Yes, something is wrong. But it’s not your fault. There’s something wrong in the brain, and I’m here to help. I know what to do.
Now, as a certified child-brain developmentalist and literacy expert, I’m here to teach parents what they can do to ensure the proper neurological development of their children – how to create a healthy brain, which is the foundation of all learning, and the foundation of a happy, healthy, successful life.
Now I am on a mission to share what I know with every parent I meet – that these principles of child brain development are not just for kids who have been diagnosed with a brain injury, but for every kid!
I want to give every child the opportunity to become as capable as they can be, but especially those who struggle alone because they are only mildly neurologically disorganized. In these cases, their parents and teachers are often baffled that these kids are so bright, yet have consistent problems. They seem so smart in so many ways, but struggle to read, write, and learn with the same ease as their peers. These problems are not mysterious at all, rather they are an indication that the brain is not working as it should. But we can fix that. I know how.
For the last 20 years, I have been applying what I know about the brain to help kids overcome their learning struggles. Most of these kids, sadly, have decided that they are just not as smart as their friends, that there is something wrong with them. Well, I’m here to say:
Yes, something is wrong. But it’s not your fault. There’s something wrong in the brain, and I’m here to help. I know what to do.
Now, as a certified child-brain developmentalist and literacy expert, I’m here to teach parents what they can do to ensure the proper neurological development of their children – how to create a healthy brain, which is the foundation of all learning, and the foundation of a happy, healthy, successful life.