Moi’s parents never imagined their son would lose the ability to walk. When he was very young, Moi was in an accident that led to a spinal cord injury. His doctors said he would never walk again, so his parents decided to move to San Antonio so that he could be cared for at the Children’s Rehabilitation Institute TeletonUSA (CRIT). It was here that Moi began to get stronger and where he made tremendous progress with his mobility and independence.

Moi’s therapy has given him boundless self-confidence, which he exudes with passion as he participates in sports. Now 11 years old, Moi has participated in 13 marathons, winning 13 national medals. His basketball coach gave him the nickname Pac-Man because, like the video game character, Moi is tireless and keeps going after the ball. “The sky is the limit for Moi,” says his mother, Elisa, her voice beaming with pride and happiness. 

After feeling lost and helpless, Moi’s family found a place that opened up a world of possibility. At CRIT, they not only have access to the latest physical therapy for their son but also to transformational counseling, which provides them with diverse resources. Moi’s family is very grateful and says that their life improved because of CRIT. His mother tells us that CRIT helped the family discover that a disability may require specific lifestyle changes. Still, it does not stop them from enjoying each day to the fullest!

Watch Moi’s story here.

“In order to heal, we must first forgive, and sometimes the person we must forgive is ourselves.” – Mila Brown 

Forgiveness, in general, can be difficult. It depends on us, the person who hurt us, and what was done. The deeper the wound, the harder it is to forgive, especially if it came from someone we love and trust. 

At the end of the day, the person we hurt the most by not forgiving is ourselves. The other person probably continues to live as normal as possible and may not even be aware of how much their actions hurt us. We hold on to that hurt, reliving the pain each time we think of that person and what they have done. It is like adding salt to a wound. Holding grudges and resentment can make us angry, bitter, and physically sick.

Forgiving ourselves is sometimes difficult because we think we should have known better. We become upset for trusting someone we knew we shouldn’t. Forgiveness is not a sign of weakness as it requires strength. When it comes to forgiving ourselves, it also requires compassion. Many of us are harder on ourselves than we are on others. We are our own worst critics.

Today, I encourage you to be compassionate with yourself and offer self-forgiveness. Let go of those burdens that hold you down. I read a quote recently, “When you forgive, you heal. When you let go, you grow.” I do not know the author, but I agree with the quote. You may have made a wrong choice, but you probably decided based on what you knew at the time. You cannot blame yourself for not knowing what you did not know. Accept, forgive and move on, ready to embrace the present moment. You cannot change the past, but you can change the present and future through forgiveness.

Xavian was just a toddler when he fell into the pool and suffered a brain injury due to a prolonged lack of oxygen. He was visiting Las Vegas with his family for a baptism when the incident occurred. Xavian’s grandmother, Leticia, said he wanted to go in the pool one morning, so she got him ready to swim.

Later that day, after swimming, she sat Xavian in the living room while she went to the kitchen for a few minutes. Suddenly, she heard, “Mom, he is not there.” Leticia frantically searched for Xavian and found him lifeless in the pool.

“At that moment, I felt like I was dying,” Leticia says. “They couldn’t make him come back; they shocked him and nothing.”

Leticia has a picture of the Virgin Guadalupe in her home. Whenever Xavian saw the picture, his grandmother would say, “‘ Look, it’s Lupita. It’s the Virgin of Guadalupe.’ I would say, ‘Tell Lupita good night,’ and he would say, ‘night night Pita, night night Pita.'”

Leticia prayed to the Virgin Guadalupe on the day Xavian fell into the pool.

“I asked the Virgin of Guadalupe, ‘Please leave him with me. Please do not take him away from me. I will do everything possible and give everything I have to him, as long as I live.’ I think God heard my prayers because he left him here with me.”

Today, Xavian needs help performing everyday functions. The Children’s Rehabilitation Institute TeletonUSA (CRIT) has been working with Xavian to help him re-learn how to use his muscles.

“I received a call that CRIT had a space for Xavian,” Leticia says. “I had been calling all the time. I would call every week in hopes of getting him treatment there. We were so happy when we got the call because we were going to go see the place that everyone says is magical.”

Leticia and her husband, Jaime, drove 18 hours to get their grandson treatment at CRIT.

“I said to myself, ‘if my little boy has been fighting so hard, why wouldn’t I do the same?’ As long as he keeps fighting, I will be right by his side fighting with him.”

After just two weeks of receiving intensive treatment at CRIT, Xavian began moving his arms and legs, improved his head control and alertness during transitional movement activities, and his sitting tolerance and positioning.

At CRIT, medical staff provides reports and information to each family so they can continue facilitating rehabilitation at home. Today, Xavian’s grandparents demonstrate good handling skills, are now knowledgeable about physioball and mobility activities and can facilitate sitting activities with their grandson.

Additionally, Xavian’s grandmother created an at-home gym that plays an active role in Xavian’s daily care.

“Behind you, all your memories. Before you, all your dreams. Around you, all who love you. Within you, all you need.” – Lilli Vaihere 

This quote speaks about our past, our future, and our present. What caught my attention was “Within you, all you need.” We cannot change what happened yesterday. We can plan for tomorrow but truly do not know what will happen. What is real is this moment. What you need today, right now, to live your life is within you. You have what it takes to live, not just to exist. 

We know that life is not easy. It resembles a roller coaster ride with its ups and downs and a few spins along the way. We have moments of joy and laughter and others of sheer terror and pain. 

The qualities and characteristics you possess to live a better life were developed through your past experiences and will help you achieve your dreams and face your future. Each day gives us the opportunity to utilize our qualities and improve others. Yes, we acknowledge we have areas for improvement. For today, let’s focus on our strengths and qualities such as resilience, perseverance, dedication, and adaptability. Negative self-talk does not improve our situation or self-esteem. 

I encourage you to reflect, identify and acknowledge the strengths that are within you. Those strengths will help you through the roller coaster of life. Celebrate your memories, your dreams, and the people who love you. Most importantly, celebrate yourself.

When Krestalenn was just an infant, she survived a head-on collision that left her paralyzed on her right side and blind in one eye. Questions were swirling around Krestalenn’s condition and recovery for many years – Would she learn how to walk on her own? Would she be able to speak? Will she be able to play with other kids her age?

Because Krestalenn suffered a traumatic brain injury (TBI) at such a young age, her family was forced to wait and see how her injuries would affect her development.

Krestalenn’s grandparents became her legal guardians when she was ten months old. Knowing that Krestalenn would need physical therapy to guide her development, her grandparents sought the help of Children’s Rehabilitation Institute TeletonUSA (CRIT).

Today, Krestalenn is walking independently, expanding her vocabulary, and learning how to swim.

Speech and Physical Therapy with CRIT

Krestalenn visits CRIT twice a week for her speech and physical therapy appointments. At this point in her life, CRIT is a part of the routine her grandparents created for her. Krestalenn’s grandfather says that his granddaughter operates on a tight schedule comprising school and CRIT therapies and appointments. 

With regular physical and speech therapy appointments at CRIT, Krestalenn is learning how to walk, use her hands, and verbally communicate with others.

“Krestalenn is really a fighter,” her grandmother says. “She’s a miracle.”

When Krestalenn first came to CRIT, she hadn’t been speaking for over a year. Her physical development was behind others her age.

 “Before CRIT, after the accident, she was quiet for about a year and a half,” her grandfather says. Things look – and sound – different today, however. “She’s talking better. She’s talking in sentences.”

One of Krestalenn’s favorite phrases is “how much?” because every time someone says “I love you” to her, she asks, “how much?” People typically answer her with “this much,” extending their arms as wide as possible. Her vocabulary has expanded considerably, but “how much?” is the phrase that sticks with her.

“[CRIT has] everything in one building,” her grandmother says. “The outcome is unbelievable. She takes off when we put her in the walker. We have to run after her!”

What is a Traumatic Brain Injury?

According to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, a traumatic brain injury (TBI) is “a form of acquired brain injury [that] occurs when a sudden trauma causes damage to the brain.” In Krestalenn’s case, her TBI occurred due to a head-on collision.

Symptoms of a TBI vary, depending on the severity. A mild TBI can result in headaches and confusion, while a severe TBI can result in slurred speech, numb extremities, and loss of coordination.

Typically, there isn’t much to be done for a mild TBI as far as treatment goes. Severe TBIs are often treated with physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech/language therapy, physiatry (physical medicine), psychology/psychiatry, and social support.

Find Care at the Children’s Rehabilitation Institute TeletonUSA

The Children’s Rehabilitation Institute TeletonUSA (CRIT) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization offering comprehensive rehabilitation services for children with neurological, muscular, and skeletal disabilities. Contact us today to learn how we can help your child live a healthy and happy life after a brain injury.