Have you ever heard of a weighted blanket? Or maybe a weighted vest? If your answer is “No”, these questions may conjure up visions of ancient torture apparatus, when in truth, it is quite the opposite. Body armor in the face of a battle would probably be a more appropriate visual, if you allow for […]
As healthcare professionals we often find ourselves discussing our patients as a collective rather than as individuals. The same thing occurs in discussions about autism, and this has been highlighted with the recent changes in the way autism is medically defined and diagnosed. According to the American Psychiatric Association’s Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental […]
I don’t usually write these posts in real-time, but today I feel I need to make an exception. I have struggled all week with my scheduled post, editing and fine tuning, and getting nowhere. My mind is on Lia. She has been struggling all week as well, and now she is in a fight for […]
Lia has a therapy cat. Actually, Kitty-Kitty is a rescue cat that was supposed to belong to Mom, but I guess it’s true what they say, people don’t own their cats, cats own their people, and Kitty-Kitty has chosen Lia. Dogs have held a tight leash on the therapy market for just about ever, so […]
Have you ever had one of “those” moments where you blanked on the name of a long-time friend, or forgot what you wanted to say in the middle of a sentence? Do you sometimes forget why you got up to go into another room, so you have to go back and start over? Have you […]
I’m usually “that person” people turn to when they just want someone to listen. I’m told that I’m a really good listener. I enjoy listening. But with Lia, I’m a talker. I talk to Lia because doing so seems to keep her entertained and engaged – except of course when she’s not in the mood […]
Stimming is a term commonly used to describe the “stereotypy” or “self-stimulatory behaviors” linked to autism. These behaviors can include repetitive activities, or stims, involving body movements, sounds, or the manipulation of objects. This is the point where the Hollywood renditions of stimming will most likely come to mind with the flapping, and screaming, and […]
Lia had a major meltdown today and threw a few things. Dad was a little frustrated, “Why do you keep doing stuff like this?” Mom quietly reminded him that Lia’s senses were overloaded and this is how she expresses that feeling. Lia wanted Mom at that point so Dad and I withdraw to let them […]
A while ago my daughter shared a video clip from an old episode of “Family Guy” that she thought was hilarious. In it, Stewie pulls a prank on his mom, calling the various versions of her name repeatedly until she responds, and then he runs away laughing. As soon as I saw the clip I […]
In Nursing School we are taught a little about a lot. Other than the foundation skills such as hand washing, vital signs, physical assessments, and dosage calculations, I think the goal of our education is exposure more so than mastery. There’s so much information in so many areas of healthcare that no one could possibly […]
Lia's Nurse 