These are a few of the comments made by families who have sought our help:
Move the mouse over the pictures to read the testimonials.
Move the mouse over the pictures to read the testimonials.
Testimonial - Tianna
Tianna has congenital hydrocephalus and septo-optic dysplasia and although we received the standard NHS provision from when she was born, which was good, the problem was that it was patchy.Dad, a nurse, continues: 'If I could distil the benefits of Brainwave, it's that you get a whole package you can use at home that incorporates some of what the NHS gives you, and more, and which is put into something you can use and understand. It has also been good to go to a place where you can gain a degree of control, which doctors, of course, cannot give you.
Tianna was 14 months old when she started with Brainwave and at the time she wasn't moving at all. She couldn't roll or sit. She can now crawl, sit - and even side-sit very easily and she is achieving more and more cognitive and communication skills. She is becoming much more independent and now goes to mainstream nursery.
Mum adds: "At the beginning she really did protest. It's not always easy as sometimes you have to work through the tears as it's strange and new and they don't want to do the exercises. But we knew if we didn't, it would hold her back. So we had to put our own feelings behind us and think about what's best for her. We knew we were doing the right thing for her.
I think it's important for parents to realise the amount of hard work it takes, and that it can be hard sometimes to find the time but by investing that bit of time, the rewards are immeasurable.
It's also important not to be obsessive about it and not to beat yourself up if you have to miss the occasional day. We try not to but if we have to, we don't allow ourselves to feel guilty about it. We do what we can.
The real plus factor is that in doing the Programme, it gives us time away from everything else when we can really focus in on helping Tianna. You tend to lose that in the melée of life.
I'm absolutely positive that if it wasn't for Brainwave, and for all the hard work we've put in, Tianna would still just be lying on her back."
TESTIMONIAL - AMY
After Amy had three Grade 4 bi-lateral brain haemorrhages and was diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy, I found out as much as I could about what had exactly happened to her.I just knew there was more to Amy than what she appeared. I started doing some exercises that would help her but I needed a more structured exercise programme that had a logic and knew I needed some guidance in that direction.
I came to you and it was the best thing ever. It was the way I had been thinking all along but the Programme you gave me took me to another level, and I got all the equipment I needed as well.
I was aiming for Amy to reach her maximum potential, and as no-one really knows what that is, you just have to keep trying.
Amy's a very determined little girl. She now walks well in a walking frame, she's talking, reading picture books, and is in mainstream school.
I feel very strongly that she should have fun and do all the things that children do, even if they have to be tweaked, and so far the general public have been fantastic, we've had a fabulous response.
TESTIMONIAL - Peter
We have attended Brainwave for six years with our eight-year-old son Peter who has severe cerebral palsy with spasticity microcephaly. We have found both the staff advice and therapy programmes to be of immense and invaluable benefit, because without their help, we do not bear to think how we would have coped otherwise. It has been of great benefit to both Peter and to us as parents.Through the therapy Programme, we are now able to understand a lot more about Peter's problems and how to carry out the daily work routine which has helped with his body movements and very basic understanding of life.
We find the home-based therapy is a great advantage as we live 360 miles away from the Brainwave Centre, so we are able to attend Brainwave twice a year for reassessments and learn new exercises which we can then take home, as well as being provided with all the equipment we will need such as wedges, rolls and physio balls.
With the help of family, friends and neighbours who join in the exercise sessions, we now feel that Peter is able to enjoy a better quality of life than would have been possible without the help of Brainwave. We know, too, that if we have any problems whatsoever, the Brainwave therapy team is at the other end of the telephone with immediate help and answers. We would be so lost without them.
Keith and Ruth Simpson
TESTIMONIAL - IESHA
Iesha is nearly 9 years old and Mum explains:We're actually very lucky in that Iesha's school has been fantastic and she receives physio there as well as having a private physio once a week. But we felt there was still more we could do to help her.
I then happened to read about Brainwave in an article in the Daily Mail about twin girls who also had Cerebral Palsy.
A few months after visiting Brainwave and starting Iesha's special Programme, she is pulling herself to standing, is much more independent and has a real determination to do everything on her own.
We had always hoped she would learn to walk and it's something she really wants for herself.
She now goes off in her walking frame into the little cul-de-sac where we live and where she has eight little friends to play with. Last week she came in soaked from a water fight with the boys.
It has given us such hope to see how she has developed in the last five months - it makes you wonder what she can achieve in the next five months. Hope is so vital to us.
What I love about Brainwave is that you know you're not forgotten when you've walked out the door; it's so personal and so very focussed.
FAMILIES
"We had a great few days with you all at Brainwave. It's only a week that Ella has been on the programme and already we can see the difference. We were amazed at how she took to you all and really enjoyed it. Look forward to seeing you all in March."
DOWN SYNDROME TESTIMONIAL - EMMA
I think Brainwave is brilliant. I'd been looking for this type of help, and although it took me three years, I know I've found it.
The therapists are fantastic; they are so supportive. At the Initial Assessment, they really gave us hope and made us feel there is something we can do to help Emma. They were there to help us, and to teach us how to help Emma.
So many people you see suggest that you do a bit of this, or that you do that, it can become quite mind-boggling. To have a clear and structured programme written down in a simple list that you know is addressing all her areas of development, is brilliant. You know then that you're doing as much as you can.
Although Emma had just taken a few steps when we started Brainwave a couple of months ago, I still can't quite get my head around seeing her walking about now. We started with working on her balance, and now she's doing so well.
I think Brainwave is brilliant. I'd been looking for this type of help, and although it took me three years, I know I've found it.
The therapists are fantastic; they are so supportive. At the Initial Assessment, they really gave us hope and made us feel there is something we can do to help Emma. They were there to help us, and to teach us how to help Emma.
So many people you see suggest that you do a bit of this, or that you do that, it can become quite mind-boggling. To have a clear and structured programme written down in a simple list that you know is addressing all her areas of development, is brilliant. You know then that you're doing as much as you can.
Although Emma had just taken a few steps when we started Brainwave a couple of months ago, I still can't quite get my head around seeing her walking about now. We started with working on her balance, and now she's doing so well.