Joe's (age 3yrs 6months) - recovery from ME

Joe’s condition prior to the Lightning Process 

Clinically diagnosed - ME for 1 year 80  - 90 % functionability

Changes I noticed during the Lightning Process three day course:

Day..1

He fell soundly asleep in the afternoon which he never normally does.  Delayed bedtime as a result but slept ok.  Straight away stopped needing to watch DVDs to rest so much. 

Day..2

Really enjoyed the session – managed a hospital appointment and course on the same day.  Improved humour and appetite.

 Day..3

Joe managed to play at a friend’s house after treatment.  Seeming less insecure.

Changes I noticed in the two weeks following the course, and the activities I undertook, that I could not have done prior to the Lightning Process.

Joe became a lot less clingy and we feel like we have our little boy back again.  Two days after completing the course he let Dad put him to bed for the first time in months which was amazing.  Now Dad puts him to bed mostly, like he was doing before his ME became worse.  Although he still wakes at night he sleeps more soundly and doesn’t wake up so early in the morning.  He is able to go on day trips again without getting over tired or over anxious.  Has dramatically reduced watching DVDs – has much more energy to play so doesn’t ask to watch a DVD again and some days hardly has the TV on at all (like before ME.)  Improved speech – forming words better, doesn’t get so confused.  Has had a knock on affect on his learning seems to have opened his mind to all sorts of things.  He now has the energy and capacity to take on board new ideas.  We can reason with him and explain things which before he couldn’t handle when tired.  Still has some tantrums/tiredness as his energy levels adjust but overall amazing turnaround.

Changes I have noticed in the time following that

He is much happier going to playgroup and nursery.  He doesn’t get so tired or anxious when tired, as before.  He was able to cope with me going away for one night and being looked after just by Dad and then spending a night away with his friends and me without any more than normal anxiety, previously impossible.  He can cope with doing more than one activity in a day.  I can take him shopping!  He has managed a pretty physical swimming session without delayed fatigue.

What my family/friends/colleagues think about the changes in me since the Lightning Process

Granny noticed a difference in him by the 5th day and now finds he wants to play and not watch TV when visiting her.

Friends have also commented on how changed he is.

Other comments about my experience of the Lighting Process with Sherree .

We are so grateful that Sherree took the risk of trialing this program with Joe, being 3 and half and the first time she had worked with someone so young.  We were very impressed with the way she related it to things familiar to him and are just so happy by the immediate results.  Joe is a completely changed boy and life for all of us has returned to busy family life, ie. ‘normality’ rather than ME driven normality.  We feel so lucky to have had this opportunity to turn Joe’s treatment around and enable him to beat ME rather than the other way round.  Previously we were getting desperate that we had no idea when or how Joe would get over this and how else we could help him move forward.

P.S. - 16/9/09

Had wonderful summer, went camping with friends in Devon, and Joe was actually the first of all the children to settle at bedtimes.

Joe was able to have a lovely 4th Birthday party.

Email - 28/10/09

Hi Sherree 
Joe is much better - the blip we had, we think, must have stemmed from feeling rotten before and after the ear infection.  We were surprised how long it took him to get over it and how easily he fell back into ME type behaviour for a month on and off.  We guess the patterns of behaviour are still in there and he needs to keep practising the techiniques until the behaviour is no longer a part of his make up ? 

We had got out of the habit of practising with Joe. We hope as he is so young he won't need to do this forever but will continuing doing it as long as he needs to. We were getting very worried but he seems much more settled now.  Thank goodness! 

He is much more keen going to nursery and playgroup on the 2 days he attends again.  That's always my indicator to how he's feeling.

I had my 3 nights away for my college friend’s 40th in Lisbon.  Joe coped really well without me. Something I couldn't have contemplated before.  Fantastic !

All the best and thanks for your phone support.