School Refusal - Great News!

[mama2alex]

We finished the 3 week intensive program at Rothman 9 weeks ago today. It felt like a good time to share that we have seen amazing results. DS 13 has struggled with school anxiety and refusal (which also extended to summer camps) since sudden onset of PANS in June 2009. We've been able to resolve or improve many other symptoms with medical treatment, but this one just wouldn't budge. Last year, between Mono and school refusal, he missed about half the school year (including the last 6 weeks of school when he didn't attend at all), and we were beginning to think that he wouldn't be able to continue in a traditional school setting.

 

Since seeing Dr. R for 3 weeks at Rothman, ds has gone to school every day for 8 1/2 weeks. There have been a few bumps along the way - especially in the beginning - and he's only made it in for 1/2 or 3/4 of a day a few times (maybe 4 days) due to anxiety. But on the whole, he seems to be on track and is feeling very proud of himself! As always, there have been a few potential obstacles to success - lots of homework, a mild concussion that's given him headaches and nausea, and kept him out of P.E. and recess the last few weeks, a new boy who's a bit mean - but he has pushed through all of these problems and we are just thrilled.

 

In addition, we spent the first couple of weeks of therapy working on ds going to bed by himself, I think as sort of a practice run for the bigger issue of school. He has never gone to sleep without one of us in the room with him, but since seeing Dr. R. he has been doing it on his own.

 

Dr. R (and I know there are other excellent therapists there) is absolutely incredible. I really don't know how he does it, but all of us learned so much. I think he was working on various levels of the problems simultaneously - talking about it, educating all of us on a more intellectual level, confronting Alex about behaviors, encouraging him, reworking routines for more consistency, doing gradual exposures with the bedtime routine, bringing up buried emotions, etc.

 

I wanted to post this in case there's anyone on the fence about going to Rothman. I spent almost a year deciding whether to make the trek out from California, and my only regret is that we waited so long.

 

Thanks so much to all who recommended this program to us and took the time to post, answer my questions, and talk on the phone with me!

[lfran]

We also went to rothman from California and it was amazingly worth it

[airial95]

My kids have done weekly therapy there (we are only a county over) and it has been amazing!!!

[philamom]

My kids have done weekly therapy there (we are only a county over) and it has been amazing!!!

[[zealous]] :-)

[philamom]

mama- you know how so happy I am for you!!!!!

[SSS]

What a GREAT post! :-)

[MomWithOCDSon]

Congratulations! What great news! Well worth a celebration!

[mdmom]

I am THRILLED for you and your son! He must feel like a champ.

 

Sending my best to all of you...

[sf_mom]

Awesome!