Sara Hanna Foundation

Jan. 21,

So sorry it’s been so long.

Sara is doing well, she has been doing amazing things lately, and a lot of things are falling into place. So far it’s been a great year.

Sara now has a Lite Gait which is a device that allows her to walk on a tred mill, and eventually learn to run. Sara is now walking with some assistance around the house, either her therapist or myself will stand on her right side and facilitate her hip and move her leg through, while she controls and moves her left side. It is awesome to watch, she has come so far and I do not think she is not done yet. She fights so hard for everything she is able to do, and she is so proud of herself.

I wish I had half the fight within myself as she does.

Sara has an appt. next month with the Orthopedic doc they will be setting up a surgery date for the H.O. (Extra bone growing where it should not be), which will not be soon enough. She has been experiencing a lot of pain to the point that it becomes unsafe at times. While doing a transfer, her leg can buckle on you. (This bone that is growing penetrates the muscle in her thigh area.)

The best news yet is that the insurance denial was overturned for her Dynavox which is a computer that will speak for her. She will type what she wants to say and it will speak it for her, and she can access the internet, have a private conversation on the phone. Its one step closer to getting back to school, which is one of her goals. It’s pretty awesome, but we are not giving up on talking, she will talk again, and god help us all, she has A LOT to say. She is also working on the alphabet in sign language.

We are in the last stages of Sara getting her power chair, what a hassle that has been, but we are getting there. She is so funny, she will want to go into another room or want something, and she will start her engine and pretend to drive. You gotta laugh, she gets a kick out of it.

We started back with horse backing riding a few months ago. She is doing well with it. Along with the horse back riding she is still doing the craniosacral therapy. This is pretty awesome stuff.

We are starting to see movement in her right arm.

Sara and I would like to thank the girls at school I.U. for the letters and X-mas cards. Thanks for thinking of her. A special thanks to the Beirne’s.

Well, that is a brief overview of what she has been doing, and I hope to update monthly.

March 11, 2007

Sara is now the proud owner of a new power wheel chair. She is doing great with it, able to cut sharp corners, cruise around the house and her favorite thing to do is to sneak up on you when you are not expecting it. She thinks it’s a blast.

Sara is working hard on her Dynavox, ( computer that talks for her) there is a lot to learn on this device. Right now she is working on making complete sentences, which is very frustrating to her. She is very anal about her spelling, she know’s what she wants to say, but from her brain to her fingertips, to type it out everything gets scrambled. Sentences will sometimes be backwards, but then other times they will perfect. It depends on the day.

We have set up an email for Sara in hopes that friends from school will email her. This will be an additional therapy without her knowing it. She misses school and friends so bad to the point that she is starting to have little breakdowns. Sara’s email is sarahanna20@yahoo.com

Sara is still working very hard, her walking is improving and we get a little more movement out of her right arm and leg everyday.

We had to stop horseback riding because it was so cold now with the weather breaking we will start back with the horseback riding to help with her balance. Sara is looking forward it, she really enjoy’s going.