The change in Shlomit's quality of life is evident. She is now able to experience things that she was never able to before. Her new abilities bring happiness not only to Shlomit but to her entire family.
My name is Sigalit Monti, and my sister Shlomit is 42 years old, suffers from cerebral palsy, with high muscle tone, cognitive disability, blindness and is fed via a gastrostomy tube.
Shlomit grew up with my parents who took care of her at home until they passed away. She received only home treatment and never received physical therapy, occupational therapy or attended any day treatment center.
It was only after my parents passed away that I was left in charge of Shlomit.
In 2016, she began attending the Cochav Haztafon Association's day treatment center in Mercaz Cochav. At the end of 2018, the center began using the MOVE Philosophy. Shlomit began receiving physical therapy treatments from Jennifer following the MOVE concepts.
Prior to her treatments, my sister was confined to a wheelchair. Due to her high muscle tone, the wheelchair was reclined and took up a lot of space. Plus, with her visual limitations, it was difficult for her to interact with others. Her high muscle tone made her unable to perform voluntary movements with her arms or legs.
Due to my sister's condition and the fact that she did not receive treatment until almost 40 years old, her outlook was not very encouraging in terms of improving her current state.
One month after starting the MOVE method, Shlomit was able to sit in a typical chair with minor support and her muscle tone decreased. After two months we received a video of Shlomit. It was very emotional for us because she was sitting alone for the first time in her life on the edge of a bed without support. We were thrilled.
Shlomit returned home very excited with her progress in the treatments. For the first time, she was able to interact better with her friends at the center, while sitting with them on a regular chair, she began to perform movements voluntarily with her arms that allowed her to do different activities, that she was not able to do before. She soon was able to maintain a standing position with the support of a Rifton Pacer and was able to participate with her friends in the dance workshop.
