‘Never’ Should be a 4 Letter Word

January 1, 2012
8:04 am
Success Stories: CE, Success Stories: HBOT

Joshua was born at only 26 weeks. Doctors were unable to determine any cause for the premature delivery. Shortly after his birth, he experienced a Grade 4 intraventricular hemorrhage. This prolonged internal bleeding resulted in severe trauma and damage to his brain. According to the doctors, Joshua would never survive.

In what would mark the first in a long list of overcoming ‘nevers’ placed on him by others, Joshua lived. Due to issues with his biological parents’ home life, Joshua became a ward of the state, placing further uncertainty on his long term survival. Following Joshua’s successful fight to recover from his traumatic birth, the foster care system was told that he would be a vegetable for the rest of his life. They needed to understand that there were no positive expectations for Joshua’s life. Any prospective foster parents would need to realize the severity of his condition and come to terms with what his life most certainly would and would not be.

Joshua was given a list of ‘nevers’… things he could not, and would not ever accomplish. He would never walk. He would never talk. He would never eat on his own. He would never be able to take care of himself. He would need drugs to control his condition for the rest of his life. He would spend the rest of his life in a wheelchair. As he grew, no one would be able to take care of him on their own. He should be put in a home that would be equipped to meet his countless needs.

What a sad, limiting prediction for life. Thankfully, Joshua’s story doesn’t end with the ‘nevers’.

Joshua’s condition has since been diagnosed as Hemiplegia, a severe form of Cerebral Palsy. The damage to his brain caused him to have weakness and decreased control of the right side of his body as well as obvious developmental, physical and speech delays. Joshua has been in occupational, physical and speech therapy for most of his young life. At the age of 3, Joshua was adopted. By this time he was able to speak. While he had a limited vocabulary, he was able to accomplish one more thing that he had been told he would never do.

Just prior to his 4th birthday, Joshua began taking Conductive Education classes at Sara’s Garden. He was still unable to walk without the assistance of another person, wheelchair, or walker. After spending six months in the CE program at Sara’s Garden, Joshua was walking and playing with his brothers and friends. Through much hard work he has been able to overcome more and more of the hurdles that were originally said to be impossible!

At 4½ years of age, Joshua began having seizures. According to the doctors, his test results showed that the seizures were coming from the area of his brain that had been most damaged at birth. After spending 3 long days in the hospital, his family was told that there was nothing more that could be done for Josh except to medicate him. Not wanting to accept this fate, Joshua began receiving Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy treatments at Sara’s Garden.

His family noticed changes taking place in Joshua immediately. This shy, quiet little boy was emerging out of his shell. After completing a round of 40 HBOT treatments Joshua is seizure free. Additionally, his focus and awareness has improved, his vocabulary has expanded and the use of the right side of his body has increased.

Thanks to Conductive Education and Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy at Sara’s Garden, Joshua has a much brighter future. The list of ‘nevers’ that he was given is gone. He has successfully checked off each and every limitation that was placed on him at birth.

No matter what you’ve been told, there is hope… and Sara’s Garden can help you find it.

We Put Athletes Back in Action

Unfortunately, injuries are a common occurrence in sports. Sports injuries can be broadly classified as either traumatic or overuse injuries. These injuries range from bruises and muscle strains, to fractures and head injuries. Sara’s Garden has had great success in treating injured athletes.

Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy is the ultimate natural therapy. It increases the amount of oxygen delivered to cells in order to stimulate the body’s natural healing processes, increase athletic stamina and endurance, speed up injury and surgery recovery and strengthen the immune system.

Below are just a few of the sports injury success stories that we’ve had here at Sara’s Garden:

16 Year Old Male – Torn ACL A football player tore his ACL mid season. After undergoing surgery he was told that he would be out six months, effectively ending both his football and basketball seasons. After only 18 HBOT treatments, he was back to running and working out and did not have to miss the basketball season.
17 Year Old Male – Stress Fracture A football player suffered a stress fracture to his foot in a preseason scrimmage. He was told that he would be out six weeks, almost his entire senior year. One week later, after only 6 HBOT treatments, he was back in action and did not miss a single game.
14 Year Old Female – Hairline Fracture and Dislocation A soccer player fractured her clavicle and suffered a sternal dislocation during an intramural basketball game. She was told that she would be out one month and would miss the end of her soccer season. After only 1 week and 7 HBOT treatments she was cleared by her doctor and allowed to finish out her soccer season.
17 Year Old Female – Stress Fracture A multisport athlete suffered a stress fracture to her shin during an off-season basketball camp. After sitting out while using crutches and a walking boot for over 7 weeks, she was released and began training for cross country. However, every time she ran she experienced pain and significant swelling in her leg. After only 6 HBOT treatments the pain and swelling disappeared and she was able to resume competing. She continued to undergo HBOT treatments periodically for the remainder of the season to recover from races quicker and boost her endurance.
18 Year Old Male – Hip Flexor Injury A multisport athlete injured his hip flexor during baseball season at the end of his junior year. The injury did not improve and carried over into preseason workouts for his senior year of football. By the time of his first game he was barely able to run and did not know if he would be able to compete. After beginning HBOT treatments immediately following his first game he was able to continue playing and did not have to miss a single game while recovering from his injury. He went from not being able to run to being the first person down the field on kickoff coverage breaking the opponent’s wedge.
18 Year Old Male – Dislocation A football player dislocated his shoulder near the end of his junior year causing him to miss the final 4 weeks of the season. He underwent surgery after the season was over to repair the damaged shoulder. The injury reappeared in warmups just prior to the first game of his senior year and caused him to have to miss the game. He began HBOT treatments following the first game and was able to continue playing the entire season without missing any additional games.
17 Year Old Female – Severe Ankle Sprain A volleyball player suffered a severe sprain to both sides of her ankle after landing awkwardly following a block. She experienced tremendous swelling and bruising and was forced to use crutches as she was not able to put any weight on her foot. She was told that she would miss the remainder of the regular season as well as any tournament action. After only 4 HBOT treatments her swelling was reduced and she was able to begin putting weight back on her ankle. After a total of 10 treatments she was able to return to action and compete in her team’s post season tournament.

No matter what you’ve been told, there is hope… for this and many other conditions. HBOT is treatment without drugs… without surgery… without pain.

What Happens When You’re Told There’s No Cure?

When you’re 27 years old you feel like you have the rest of your life ahead of you. You never expect to hear that you have a life threatening condition. In July 2011, Amanda’s world was turned upside down when she discovered that the odd symptoms she had been experiencing for almost a year were the onset of Multiple Sclerosis (MS), a debilitating disease for which there is no known cure.

Multiple Sclerosis affects the ability of nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord to communicate with each other effectively. The body’s immune system attacks and damages its own nerves. When the nerves are damaged they can no longer effectively conduct signals. Almost any neurological symptom can appear with the disease, and often progresses to physical and cognitive disability. After experiencing a buzzing sensation in her tailbone for several months, Amanda woke up one morning numb from the middle of her waist down.

The next five months were tenuous and Amanda’s symptoms continued to progress. When she rubbed her feet together it felt as if there were spikes stabbing at her. Her back would go numb after taking a shower as the nerves became confused and sent improper signals to her brain. The numbness in her body made it difficult to sit at work all day. She would need to come home and lay on the couch on her stomach all night in order to remain comfortable. She began experiencing a sensation called binding, where her waist legs, feet and toes felt as if they had ropes and wires wrapped around them, constricting tighter and tighter.

By the time Amanda was finally diagnosed with MS, walking was difficult and she was no longer able to drive a car as she could not feel her feet on the pedals. She began the standard treatment for MS by receiving steroids in hopes of reducing her symptoms. The steroids made her feel weird and caused her mind to race. Unfortunately, after a long week in the hospital, her symptoms had not improved as well as had been hoped and she went home feeling worse than before treatments began. Amanda’s energy level began to drop and extreme fatigue became difficult to overcome. She could no longer work and had to go on short term disability.

Thankfully Amanda’s story doesn’t end there. She began researching additional treatment options and discovered Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT). Over the past two decades, international medical research has demonstrated that HBOT can play an extremely effective role in the treatment of Multiple Sclerosis. In many European countries, HBOT is now considered an integral part of the MS treatment program. In Britain alone, over 10,000 MS patients have received HBOT from the more-than 60 centers dedicated to treating Multiple Sclerosis.

Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy should begin as soon as practical and preferably before irreversible lesions have become established. This does not mean that patients with long-term MS will not benefit; but it does mean that time is a factor. In a recent publication in the prestigious New England Journal of Medicine researchers demonstrated significant objective improvements in 70% of patients treated.

After completing a round of 40 HBOT treatments Amanda is beginning to feel like herself again. Feeling is returning to her legs and feet. She is walking independently and has started driving again. Her energy has increased dramatically and her family is amazed at the changes they have seen take place in her. She has returned to work and is ready to resume her normal life.

Thanks to Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy at Sara’s Garden, Amanda has her life back. No matter what you’ve been told, there is hope… for this and many other conditions. HBOT is treatment without drugs… without surgery… without pain.

Hollywood Comedy Becomes Frightening Reality

Sony Pictures’ 50 First Dates is a romantic comedy starring Adam Sandler and Drew Barrymore. Barrymore’s character, Lucy, has short term memory loss due to a brain injury she sustained in a car accident. She loses her memory every single night and can’t remember anything that has happened since her accident. It’s supposed to be a funny movie… but what would happen if this Hollywood comedy were to become your frightening reality?

Joleen was an active, healthy, 30 year old mother of four, including a four month old baby. However, due to an incorrect combination of medications she received in a hospital emergency room she suffered hypoxia and her blood oxygen level plummeted to 23%. She turned blue and became unresponsive. Doctors rushed to revive her.

When she awoke it became apparent that she had suffered an injury to her brain due to a lack of oxygen. She had completely lost her short term memory. Every five minutes her brain would recycle and she would have no memory of where she was or why she was there. People were unfamiliar. She felt as if a fog had descended on her and she couldn’t find her way out. It was a hopeless, terrifying experience.

After four long, frustrating days she was released from the hospital. Her family was told there was nothing more that could be done for her. They would simply need to wait and see if her memory would ever come back.

Thankfully, Joleen’s husband, Juan, wasn’t in a waiting mood and he immediately began calling for help. Their family doctor told them about Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy and advised them to take Joleen to Sara’s Garden as soon as possible. That’s all Juan needed to hear. That afternoon they were on their way to Wauseon for treatments.

When they arrived, Joleen was vacant, distant and totally unsure of her situation. She was scared, confused and could not engage anyone in conversation. Juan cried as he recounted their last five days. Joleen asked him why he was crying and if she had done anything wrong. Later she commented that she felt as if “None of the parts of my brain were touching each other.”

By the end of her first treatment she looked at her attending nurse and said she felt as if a fog was lifting off of her mind. She began remembering things. Juan was amazed at the change he was seeing take place in his wife right before his eyes as he watched and listened to her on the monitors.

Five days and eight treatments later, Joleen is a completely different person than she was when she first walked through our doors… physically, intellectually and emotionally. She is now alert and able to focus on her surroundings. She is able to carry on a conversation fluidly without pausing and struggling to consider every single answer or comment. She is able to smile… and laugh… and joke with people she comes in contact with.

Thanks to Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy at Sara’s Garden, Joleen has her life back… and her family has their wife and mother back.

There is hope… for this and many other conditions. HBOT is treatment without drugs… without surgery… without pain.

You Don’t Know What You’ve Got Till It’s Gone

As the saying goes, “You don’t know what you’ve got till it’s gone.” Steve lived an active lifestyle and enjoyed many different outdoor activities. He was an avid bicycle rider, loved working out and enjoyed shooting his bow at the local club. All that changed in 2008.

After dealing with uncontrolled Diabetes and the side effects from various prescription drugs for a number of years, Steve suffered neurological damage and collapsed. Doctors diagnosed him with Ataxia. Ataxia is described as a lack of order and consists of gross lack of coordination of muscle movement. For the next three years, Ataxia has caused a variety of neurological deficits for Steve such as impaired balance, lack of energy, poor coordination, nightly body tremors and memory deterioration.

Steve longed to be able to do all of the things that he had enjoyed for so many years. To his dismay, he was not able to any longer. He sold his bike, cancelled his membership to the club and began trying to cope with life without his physical activities and exercises.

Doctors placed Steve on a number of medications that were unsuccessful in treating him so he and his wife, Linda, began researching other forms of treatment. It was during this time that they discovered Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT) at Sara’s Garden.

When Steve first came to Sara’s Garden his movement was slow and deliberate and he needed the assistance of a cane in order to make it from his car to the building. His speech was slow and he looked to his wife to assist with many of the questions as he simply could not recall any of the answers. They requested treatments in the late morning and early afternoon as Steve could not get out of bed before 10:30 a.m. and took a long time to get ready.

After his first day of HBOT, Steve was out of bed and showered by 7:30 and began making coffee and reading the newspaper. A few treatments later Steve stated that, “It feels like a fog is lifting off of me.” He was able to think much clearer and his memory began to return.

By the end of his first week of treatments, Steve began walking without the use of his cane. His gait became much more confident and he began walking with much more purpose. When he needed to bend over to tie his shoes or towel off after showering, he no longer had to hold onto something to maintain his balance. The nightly tremors that they lived with for so long went away and Steve began sleeping through the night.

After three weeks of treatments Steve now has plans to start getting back into all of the activities he loved so much. Since beginning his HBOT treatments his blood sugar levels have never spiraled out of control and he has been able to reduce the medications he has been taking. He feels great and now has the confidence in his body’s abilities to resume his active lifestyle.

Thanks to Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy at Sara’s Garden, Steve now has his life back… and his family has their husband, father and grandfather back.

There is hope… for this and many other conditions. HBOT is treatment without drugs… without surgery… without pain.

Hard Work Pays Off for William

William Denver Burton was born not breathing and, as a result, suffered hypoxia – a lack of oxygen to the brain. His family went through two life flights, with many scary times following. After six months, it became obvious to William’s mother Angie that he was not developing as a normal baby should. That was when the typical treatment approach began – physical and occupational therapy one or two times a week.

William began individual Conductive Education sessions around ten months of age. At that time, William presented with severe hypotonia, or extremely low muscle tone. He was unable to nod or shake his head, roll over continuously, ambulate in any way, achieve a sitting position, or participate in the process of standing up. William had little to no social skills, could not or would not pick up food and bring it to his mouth, did not vocalize, and had chewing problems.

Around approximately 12 months old, William began attending a more intensive group CE program. With the help of his parents and caregiver, William began to learn the crucial skills required to meet the milestones of rolling over, sitting up, and moving around more independently.

William has continued in the group CE program over the past two years and has achieved so much, including sitting up from lying; maintaining a hands-and-knees kneeling position; standing up from a seated position with his walker; and walking just about everywhere independently with the use of his walker.

The achievements are not just limited to physical skills however. He no longer has chewing problems and picks up and brings food to his mouth willingly. After eating, William opens the container of baby wipes independently, pulls one out, closes the container, and cleans his face independently.

His verbalizations are becoming more clear, and his vocabulary has expanded to approximately 25 easily understandable words and names of friends, teachers, and caregivers. His mother is amazed at how dramatically his verbalization has increased since beginning Conductive Education.

William is now incredibly social. He enjoys interacting with peers, he waves and smiles appropriately, and enjoys a good joke.

Currently William is learning to walk with tripod canes. It began slowly, as every individual part of the process must be learned. When William first began using the canes, he needed physical help to keep his balance to stand with the canes, move a cane forward, and take a step. After a few months, William now requires only verbal help to remind him what he needs to do. He can stand safely for several minutes on his own with the canes and he can move the canes forward on his own.

At three and a half years old, William is now able to attend preschool full-time. “The results are just phenomenal,” William’s mother has commented, “It’s just amazing how independent he has become since he’s started Conductive Education. William is such a hard worker. We are very proud of all of the accomplishments he has made.”

Thanks to Conductive Education at Sara’s Garden, Will has a much brighter future. No matter what you’ve been told, there is hope… and Conductive Education can help you find it.

Sara’s Garden Chosen For 2011 “Making A Difference Awards”!

We’re excited to announce that the Northwest State Community College Foundation has chosen us as one of its recipients of the 2011 Making a Difference Awards!

The Making a Difference Awards are presented annually to those who have displayed an ongoing dedication and commitment towards contributing to bettering the quality of life in the communities around Northwest Ohio.

The 2011 recipients to be recognized:

Individual: Dean Spangler
Business: Farmers & Merchants State Bank
Organization: Sara’s Garden

It’s a true honor for us to be mentioned along with such great individuals and businesses.

Sara’s Garden Helps Individuals Adapt

Article published Tuesday, March 1, 2011 by the Northwest Signal

Wauseon – Sara’s Garden recently spread awareness for Conductive Education, which teaches individuals with neuromotor disabilities to be able to adapt to and function in their environment.

National Conductive Education Day was Thursday, and Sara’s Garden offered the community an opportunity to learn about the program and observe a session in progress.

Conductor-Teacher Kasey C. Gray explained Sara’s Garden was inspired by Sara and Jay Burkholder and specializes in both Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy and Conductive Education. On March 15, 2002, Sara gave birth to the couple’s first child, and Jackson was delivered by emergency cesarean section. Sara passed away several hours later, and Jackson was diagnosed with cerebral palsy due to lack of oxygen during the delivery.

As his family worked together to locate alternate options to help Jackson despite being told he would not improve, Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy and Conductive Education were discovered. However, these treatments were not offered locally, so the family founded the center so services would be available locally.

Gray explained there are 30 Conductive Education centers in the Association for Conductive Education in North America. The program works for those with motor skill disorders such as cerebral palsy but can also be beneficial for those with spina bifida, Multiple Sclerosis, Parkinson’s Disease, stroke and traumatic brain injury.

“We focus on the whole person, not just the symptoms of the disorder,” she said, adding the goal is to increase independence through self-care skills such as eating and going to the bathroom, social and emotional skills to interact more with others and verbalize and fine motor skills.

Conductive Education was first developed in Hungary, and there are only four places – Hungary, Israel, the United Kingdom and Grand Rapids, Mich., at Aquinas College – which train the technique. Gray attended Aquinas and she is also an elementary teacher and intervention specialist in addition to being trained in Conductive Education.

There is currently an after-school program offered at Sara’s Garden with the assistance of a 21st Century Grant through Wauseon Schools, but enrollment is not limited to only Wauseon students. The grant covers tuition and paraprofessionals to assist during the program.

There are typically three to five in attendance at the program, which meets four days a week for two hours a day. When the students arrive, they eat a snack, go to the bathroom and participate in a lying program, where ambulatory skills such as rolling over, sitting up and using their arms are emphasized. From there, they break off into smaller groups such as actions in the sitting position, bending and stretching elbows, improving feet movements and participating in a standing program.

“They are daily routines, but it evolves with them as they improve,” Gray noted.

The current morning session includes two children between 3-4 years old who meet three days during the week. Their routine includes using a plinth table, which has slats to allow gripping because it is difficult for many to do so on a flat surface, rolling over, sitting up and working on eating skills and potty training, as well as standing and sitting programs.

Additional programming, including for adults, is available upon request.

Several parents have recoded testimonials to how the treatments have helped their children improve beyond their expectations. For example, one mother noted an exercise where the arm is lifted over the head leads to the practical use of being able to brush hair and put on a shirt.

“We want to get the word out,” she said. “We hope more people will have access to what we’re doing.”

The nonprofit organization is funded by donations, grants and fees charged by services.

“That helps us keep our heads above the water,” Gray explained of the fees.

Various fundraisers are held throughout the year, and the Eighth Annual Sara’s Garden Poker Run is set for June 4, with all proceeds going to the center.

Omira is Overcoming Her List of Nevers

Weighing in at only one pound seven ounces, Omira was born at just 25 weeks of gestation (Babies are not considered full-term until 37 weeks). Omira spent the first three months of her life in an incubator, and was in the hospital for a total of four months before finally getting to come home.

While in the hospital, a great deal of damage was done to Omira’s vocal cords. The doctors informed Adelina, Omira’s mother, that Omira would never be able to talk. In fact, Adelina was given a long list of ‘nevers’… things that Omira would never be able to accomplish… walking, talking, potty training… Even with this bleak prognosis of what her life would be like and despite exhibiting all of the telltale developmental delays. it wasn’t until Omira was 2 years old that she was finally diagnosed with spastic cerebral palsy.

Omira immediately began receiving the traditional treatment for cerebral palsy – physical and occupational therapy – one to two times each week. This went on for three years, with the family seeing very little progress in Omira’s development.

Finally, when Omira was 3½ years old and about to enter preschool, she was referred to the Conductive Education Program at Sara’s Garden by school administrators. When she arrived at Sara’s Garden to attend her first CE session, her little body was curled up into itself. She was completely unable to bear any weight on her legs or use them purposefully. She did not speak… in fact, she actually cried for the entirety of her first session (2 hours a day, 4 days a week for 4 whole weeks). She showed no interest in peers, teachers, or participating in any physical activity.

Then an amazing thing happened, Omira began to change. She stuck with the program and began to develop in every aspect – socially, emotionally, intellectually, and physically. The crying stopped too. Omira began to use short, two-word phrases to express her wants and needs. She began showing interest and excitement toward attempting new physical tasks. After one year in the Conductive Education program, Omira’s mother commented, “Now I can see my daughter.”

This child who came to Sara’s Garden with a list of ‘nevers’ continues to learn and develop and cross items off that ‘never’ list she was given… her mother is constantly amazed and says, “She has learned to do things that we never expected her to do.”

Omira now stands behind a ladder supporting her own body weight with only minimal supervision. She is in the early stages of learning to take steps with the help of an adult. She sits independently on a stool with no supports or straps. She now speaks in complete, polite sentences like, “I would like the pink cup, please.” Omira participates fully in the group routine and enjoys taking on a leader role. She has developed facial expressions and uses them appropriately.

“We are very pleased to be in a special place like this,” Omira’s mother has commented. Since we started coming to Sara’s Garden, I love it here. They have worked with her very well and she has progressed a lot!”

Thanks to Conductive Education at Sara’s Garden, Omira has a much brighter future. No matter what you’ve been told, there is hope… and Conductive Education can help you find it.

Conductive Education at Sara’s Garden

Article published Wednesday, May 7, 2008 by the Archbold Buckeye

Since the summer of 2006, Sara’s Garden has welcomed special educators from Hungary, called conductors, to lead its Conductive Education program.

Anna Baranyi, who came to the U.S. in November 2007, is the third and current conductor at the facility.

Conductive Education

Sara’s Garden is a non-profit center, originally opened in 2005 to administer hyperbaric oxygen therapy, which has proven beneficial to people with a variety of problems, including brain injuries.

Sara’s Garden expanded its offerings to include Conductive Education (CE), a system of education for people with physical disabilities that stem from brain injury. It was pioneered in 1945 by Andras Peto, a Hungarian doctor, in Budapest.

Conductive education is based on the idea that despite any damage to the central nervous system, the body has the ability to form new neural connections. This comes through the process of active learning, with the guided help of a conductor. These conductors attend a four-year university program at the Peto Institute in Budapest, the only one of its kind in the world.

CE helps individuals with brain injuries such as cerebral palsy, spina bifida, and other muscle-control problems.

This approach targets children under the age of six, because those are the ages when CE can have its greatest impact. Through CE, a child can gain higher levels of independence.

Sara’s Garden

As a conductor, Baranyi works hard with her ten clients, ages 1-14 years. By using a walking ladder, steps, plinth tables, mirrors, balls, and other items, she helps children retrain their brains.

“I teach the kids to use their body for everyday movements: open the door, put the shirt on, grab the cup and feed themselves on their own,” she said.

Being a conductor is a physically challenging job. It’s hard on the body because conductors are on the floor, maneuvering children while supporting their body weight.

Baranyi said, “Sometimes I’m extremely tired and I think, ‘You know what, I can’t do this.’ I have a couple days’ rest and I say ‘OK, I can’t stop.'” Because it’s so demanding, she jokes that, “when I become an old lady I would like to teach.”

Baranyi thinks the Sara’s Garden facility is “a blessing. It’s a wonderful place. I wish I had this place in my hometown.”

So what brought her here? “God was speaking to me: ‘Go and encourage the people there, the kids, the parents, and the people around me.’ That was His purpose.”

She plans to go to Hungary in June for a vacation, but already realizes that she is a different person since being here.

“I will go home, but not as the same person as when I came. There are many changes in me and I’m so glad God uses me.”

Client Progress

The earlier a child receives CE the better chance he has for good improvement. Its approach is not just about motor function development. It is also about the physical, intellectual and social requirements needed for developing a healthy personality.

The goal is to improve the general attitude of the child from “I can’t do this” to seeing himself with no limitations and a better self-esteem.

Measuring progress is different for each client. Some children come three or four times a week. Others come once a week. Some of this depends on how far away the families live. The more often they can come, the better chance of improvement.

When the children use Sara’s Garden’s hyperbaric chamber, they make more progress because, “it just pushes them forward.

“Also, we are praying for every kid every hour. We believe that God’s hands are on us and He can bless us,” she said.

Baranyi Adapts To American Life

As a young Hungarian woman working in a different country, Anna Baranyi faces many challenges.

Her job as a conductive education teacher, or conductor, at Sara’s Garden hyperbaric treatment center in Wauseon has its own challenges.

Learning the English language and culture can be difficult as well. Fortunately, her faith and her sense of humor have helped her overcome many obstacles.

Baranyi comes from a town similar in size to Wauseon. She graduated from the Peto Institute in Budapest in 2005.

Being the first person to become a conductor in her hometown, she said, “OK Lord, I’m going to try the U.S. That was one of my dreams.”

A Virginia consulting firm helped Baranyi find her job at Sara’s Garden. She is here on an 18-month work visa.

Living in America

Baranyi enjoys the attitude of the people.

“People are so free and flexible; they don’t complain. There are many friendly people and they want to help,” she said.

Learning English has been a little difficult because the Hungarian and English languages are so different from each other.

“I just ask people to correct me because I would like to speak well. The most troubling parts are the slangs and the idioms, but I really like them,” Baranyi said.

How does she like our food? She laughed and said, “I’m so hungry for Hungarian food!

My favorite American food is barbeque on the grill, salads, peanut butter . . . and I’m a pumpkin pie fan.”

She isn’t impressed with fast food, however.

Although there are some holidays that Americans and Hungarians celebrate, Baranyi is slightly confused by holidays such as President’s Day.

“Why do you celebrate the presidents?”

Since it was a national holiday she jokingly asked for the day off, but didn’t receive it. She is also really looking forward to celebrating Independence Day for the first time, because she “knows it’s a big deal here.”

What the Future Holds

When Baranyi’s visa expires in April 2009 she would like to continue to work as a conductor, possibly in Hungary.

“I feel sorry for my hometown because they need my help, but there is no place, equipment, or financial help” for a facility like Sara’s Garden.

She would consider a job in Europe. She will return home and then reapply for another visa if she wishes to return to the U.S.

Baranyi’s faith is what motivates her. She said, “I can’t stop. It’s just a gift that doesn’t come from me. I’m just a weak human and God wants to do something through me. “The reason why I do this is because I love the kids.”