Recreation therapy for lyme kids...

[Guest guest]

Hi guys,

I just reread my post about wanting to volunteer to help children with lyme

and realized that it wasn't very clear. I realized that its possible that

many people don't know what recreation therapy is. Sad thing is when I

finished my degree 12 years ago the field was really up and coming.but

during my 12 years of illness budget cuts and non insurance funding really

decimated the field. The problem is that Occupational therapy and

Recreational therapy are so similar and OT is covered by insurance. Anyway,

so recreation therapy is basically the same idea as occupational therapy but

with the idea that we can reach goals and make gains through fun and

enjoyment. So where an OT might have a client do a certain exercise to

improve motor skills or something a recreation therapist would make a game

of it and attain the same goals. Anyway, I just wanted to explain myself a

little more. I have seven years experience working with children with a

variety of challenges before I was sick. I miss it terribly and would like

to volunteer to help out children with lyme or even adults if they were

interested in the Westchester County NY area. It doesn't have to be

official therapy either, hanging out, playing a game, making jewelry or

other crafts assisting with homeschooling or just talking, anything.

Sorry I am so long winded I just wanted to make sure I was clear because I

think what I ended up emphasizing in my first post was that I had found a

treatment that got me better. Upon rereading it, it did sound like I wanted

to help by sharing my experience with what helped me. Which of course I am

more than willing to do :-), but I wanted to make sure my other offer came

through also. :-)

TTFN,

Dawn

_____

From: [mailto: ] On Behalf

Of dawnies

Sent: Tuesday, September 02, 2008 12:10 PM

Subject: [ ] Looking to volunteer time with chronic lyme patients in

Westchester County

Hi all,

My name is Dawn and I've been lurking here for months reading all of

everyone's posts and rarely posting myself. I have had lyme for years and

been disabled by it for 12 years neurologically. In the last few years I've

been on a treatment that also addresses the autoimmune aspect of the disease

and have made enoroumous gains. I went from being bedridden to driving and

wanting to volunteer doing what I love best which is working with children.

I'm a recreation therapist and I thought maybe I might be able to help a

fellow lyme patient. I would love the opportunity to put what I have gained

in the way of understanding and empathy to good use helping someone.

Anyway, I'm in Mamaroneck NY in Westchester county and figured I'd post and

see if there were any families that might take me up on my offer. I'm going

to post this on the Parents board also. Thanks for taking the time

to read this.

Very Sincerely,

Dawn Simonsen

Lyme Fighter :-)

[Guest guest]

Hi Dawn. I just wanted to encourage you in what you are trying to do here. I

know you will be a blessing to many struggling families. I wish I lived closer!

I'm sure you will be much appreciated. Thank you for your willingness to help

those still struggling. Penni

[ ] Looking to volunteer time with chronic lyme patients in

Westchester County

Hi all,

My name is Dawn and I've been lurking here for months reading all of

everyone's posts and rarely posting myself. I have had lyme for years and

been disabled by it for 12 years neurologically. In the last few years I've

been on a treatment that also addresses the autoimmune aspect of the disease

and have made enoroumous gains. I went from being bedridden to driving and

wanting to volunteer doing what I love best which is working with children.

I'm a recreation therapist and I thought maybe I might be able to help a

fellow lyme patient. I would love the opportunity to put what I have gained

in the way of understanding and empathy to good use helping someone.

Anyway, I'm in Mamaroneck NY in Westchester county and figured I'd post and

see if there were any families that might take me up on my offer. I'm going

to post this on the Parents board also. Thanks for taking the time

to read this.

Very Sincerely,

Dawn Simonsen

Lyme Fighter :-)

[Guest guest]

Hi Dawn, I just joined. My name is elaina and i am 13 in 8th grade. i

have not YET been diagnosed, but we are 2 weeks into igx testing, and

waiting for results. i have all Lyme symptoms and everyone other than

the Drs who think its all in my head believe this is what it is! So

here i am writing to you because i am yet again home sick from

school. I think its neat how you explained recreational therapy. I do

hippotherapy every Saturday and help them out as much as possible all

day to get a cheap hippo lesson. it has to do with horseback if you

have no clue what im talking about. I also will start pool therapy

soon, as a fun way of excercise. I live in NH, and just wanted to

share with you my ways of Therapy/exercise/fun. When you get ill like

this it is hard to exercise, its hard to feel normal and have fun,

and its hard to call it therapy, because you don't want to have to do

a type of therapy. you just wanna do regular teen or kid things, and

my way of doing that is swimming, and horseback riding, and i do rare

biking trips, and some walks with my family. We do things like go to

a ski resort's concert over the summer, and go to walk the beach,

and do other things, so i am NOT just sitting around doing nothing,

but it is incredibly hard to get moving. Do you have any ideas for

other types of 'therapy' that are really more fun. i am doing the

pool, and the horses, and playing with mini horses once a week (which

is incredible therapy inside and out), etc. but i can't think of

other free things i could do weekly that might get me moving more and

having fun too. idk, ill have to wait for a Lyme diagnosis before i

continue further with therapies and all but i was interested!

Thanks and god bless<3

Elaina

>

> Hi guys,

>

>

>

> I just reread my post about wanting to volunteer to help children

with lyme

> and realized that it wasn't very clear. I realized that its

possible that

> many people don't know what recreation therapy is. Sad thing is

when I

> finished my degree 12 years ago the field was really up and

coming.but

> during my 12 years of illness budget cuts and non insurance funding

really

> decimated the field. The problem is that Occupational therapy and

> Recreational therapy are so similar and OT is covered by insurance.

Anyway,

> so recreation therapy is basically the same idea as occupational

therapy but

> with the idea that we can reach goals and make gains through fun and

> enjoyment. So where an OT might have a client do a certain

exercise to

> improve motor skills or something a recreation therapist would make

a game

> of it and attain the same goals. Anyway, I just wanted to explain

myself a

> little more. I have seven years experience working with children

with a

> variety of challenges before I was sick. I miss it terribly and

would like

> to volunteer to help out children with lyme or even adults if they

were

> interested in the Westchester County NY area. It doesn't have to

be

> official therapy either, hanging out, playing a game, making

jewelry or

> other crafts assisting with homeschooling or just talking, anything.

>

>

>

> Sorry I am so long winded I just wanted to make sure I was clear

because I

> think what I ended up emphasizing in my first post was that I had

found a

> treatment that got me better. Upon rereading it, it did sound like

I wanted

> to help by sharing my experience with what helped me. Which of

course I am

> more than willing to do :-), but I wanted to make sure my other

offer came

> through also. :-)

>

>

>

> TTFN,

>

> Dawn

>

>