| AAT RESEARCH |
THE AWAKENING OF BRAIN INJURED PATIENTS THROUGH THE
THERAPY ANIMAL CONNECTION
Therapy animals as a modality to awakening, consciousness and rehabilitation from severe traumatic brain injury
This research involves a patient who has severe traumatic brain injury and is diagnosed as vegetative with the unlikelhood of ever awakening. He was hit by a motor vehicle while riding a bicycle.
My work began with him after he was released from the hospital and placed into a long-term convalescent facility to meet only his basic needs (as there is no care plan that included physical therapy because he did not meet the criteria outlined by an outsourced physical therapy company). I met him on my bi-monthly therapy animal visitation with residents.
Fast forward to 6 months of him showing no sign of awareness of our AAT visits with myself and my team of therapy animals and AAT specialists/volunteers, when one day, the therapy dogs broke through to him and elicited a response! One of my therapy dog handlers told me that my dog, Mana, had placed her head at his feet and he used them to hold her head! It caught my attention and I believed it was the first sign of him showing consciousness and having cognitive awareness.
The main contributing factor in his awakening from a vegetative state appears to be the therapy dogs, not people or other modalities. This connection seems to be the motivating influence for his improvement as we continue to work with him on a weekly basis.
My assertion is that animals have special qualities that breakthrough brain injury barriers and help patients awaken from a vegetative state. While these qualities are difficult to measure quantitatively, the reaction and response of the patient to them is undeniable.
Please visit the "RESEARCH BLOG" as I chronical our work with him on his journey of awakening and rehabilitation.
This study is conducted through the collaboration of Friendly Tails®, Maui Pet Therapy and Haku Baldwin Center.
My work began with him after he was released from the hospital and placed into a long-term convalescent facility to meet only his basic needs (as there is no care plan that included physical therapy because he did not meet the criteria outlined by an outsourced physical therapy company). I met him on my bi-monthly therapy animal visitation with residents.
Fast forward to 6 months of him showing no sign of awareness of our AAT visits with myself and my team of therapy animals and AAT specialists/volunteers, when one day, the therapy dogs broke through to him and elicited a response! One of my therapy dog handlers told me that my dog, Mana, had placed her head at his feet and he used them to hold her head! It caught my attention and I believed it was the first sign of him showing consciousness and having cognitive awareness.
The main contributing factor in his awakening from a vegetative state appears to be the therapy dogs, not people or other modalities. This connection seems to be the motivating influence for his improvement as we continue to work with him on a weekly basis.
My assertion is that animals have special qualities that breakthrough brain injury barriers and help patients awaken from a vegetative state. While these qualities are difficult to measure quantitatively, the reaction and response of the patient to them is undeniable.
Please visit the "RESEARCH BLOG" as I chronical our work with him on his journey of awakening and rehabilitation.
This study is conducted through the collaboration of Friendly Tails®, Maui Pet Therapy and Haku Baldwin Center.
