
<h2>Our Families: Helena Prosser</h2>
<p>
    <img src="<?php echo $this->site ?>pictures/helenap/portrait.jpg" class="portrait" />
    I was born on November 12th 1993.  I am an only child, and I live with my
    Mum, and my grandparents in Oamaru, in the South Island of New Zealand.
</p>

<h3>Early Days</h3>
<p>
    I wasn't breathing at birth, which was an indication of existing injury
    although I was 10.5lb, and a good colour.  At three weeks old, after
    recovering from the excessive application of sedatives given in hospital in
    the first 48 hours, I finally woke up and started screaming, which I did
    nearly constantly for the next five months, all day and three or four hours
    each night. Sorry, Mum!
</p>

<h3>Onset of Seizures</h3>
<p>
    <img src="<?php echo $this->site ?>pictures/helenap/thumb_scan0008.jpg" class="intext-img-right" />
    At the age of five months, coming along with my first two teeth I began
    having seizures.  On that first day I had 12 seizures, lasting ten minutes
    each.  At least when having my seizures I didnıt scream! Iım not sure whatıs
    worse. My seizures continued in varying intensity, frequency and duration
    every day of my life excepting one year at the age of seven, which was
    seizure free.  Mercifully, and thanks to my home program at the time of
    writing (April 2005) I have not had a seizure since February 21st 2005!
</p>
<p> 
    I slowly became less agitated, so that by a year old, although still heavily
    seizuring, I was much calmer.  I was however completely non-responsive,
    showed no ability to move independently, nor interact with anyone in my
    environment.  
</p>

<h3>What can we Do? The Institutes</h3>
<p>
    My Mum had been searching for treatment with no success, until when I was
    year old she and Nana discovered The Institutes For The Achievement For
    Human Potential.
    I went to The Institutes for The Development Of Human Potential, in
    Melbourne Australia, where the extent of my injury was discovered.
</p>
<p>
    <img src="<?php echo $this->site ?>pictures/helenap/thumb_scan0001.jpg" class="intext-img-left" />
    I was diagnosed with profound, diffuse, bilateral midbrain injury.  It was
    shown that I was both blind and deaf, with poor sensation: hypersensitive
    (oversensitive) in some areas, and hypo (under-sensitive) in others.
</p>
<p>
    So at 15 months of age I began the Institutes' (Australia) intensive
    program, working seven days a week and 12 hours a day. Over the next five
    years I worked extremely hard with re-assessments every six months, and a
    change in program, to accommodate the changes in my development.
</p>
<p>
    I made some wonderful and extraordinary changes during this time. Sight,
    hearing and feeling much improved.  I learned to read, and do maths, and I
    was gaining a good understanding of the world around me.  Though my
    sensation was still varied, it was less so.
</p>
<p>
    At six years old it was becoming obvious that though the change was good, it
    wasnıt fast enough, and the decision was made to take me to the Institutes
    in Philadelphia, in order to access the latest research information, and
    training.
    <img src="<?php echo $this->site ?>pictures/helenap/thumb_scan0002.jpg" class="intext-img-right" />
</p>

<h3>The Institutes in Philadelphia - my Big Program</h3>
<p>
    Six months after starting with <a title='IAHP' href="http://www.iahp.org">IAHP</a>
    in Philadelphia, and at the age of seven
    I went on to an 18 hours a day program of respiratory patterning.  Within
    three months my seizures had stopped for the first time since I was five
    months old. This was a huge time of change for me, because it also saw my
    face relax from its permanent frown, and the emergence of what my Mum calls
    the most beautiful smile in the world!  I started making soft sounds which
    everyone said were lovely, and gained some small movements.
</p>

<h3>Progress</h3>
<p>
    Over the next five years my vision and hearing improved enormously, and my
    intellectual development was profound.  Today I speed-read adult level
    books, I do university level mathematics, and I have a vast intellectual
    knowledge of the world. I have a great love of music, and enjoy a range of
    styles.
    <img src="<?php echo $this->site ?>pictures/helenap/thumb_scan0013.jpg" class="intext-img-left" />
</p>
<p>
    I have always been given an excellent diet, combined with my physiological
    program, I have been able to avoid serious illness altogether.  I have had a
    few head colds over the years, but nothing out of the ordinary.  Medical
    prognosis was for multiple hospitalizations, chest infections and surgery.
    So far I have avoided all of these, apart from a period of dental surgery,
    due to hypoplastic teeth.  (Better than real plastic!)
</p>

<h3>Complications</h3>
<p>
    In November 2004, shortly after turning eleven, it was discovered that I
    have a liver dysfunction, and a number of blood disorders.  It was decided
    that whilst these problems were being dealt with, I would not return to the
    Institutes in Philadelphia, but I would be given time to be treated, and
    recover without the stress of a physical program demanding all my efforts.
</p>

<h3>ABR</h3>
<p>
    Early on in this time my Mum was impressed by a new program which had been
    recommended by other families.  So Mum and I traveled to Singapore in March
    2005 for an <a title='ABR' href="http://www.abrbelgium.com">ABR</a> assessment. 
    <a title='ABR' href="http://www.abrbelgium.com">ABR</a> allows the rest time that I require for my
    recovery, as it is passive for me, but it is also turning out to be quite a
    positive force for me, offering more answers than were originally sought
</p>

<h3>Progress with ABR</h3>
<p>
    <img src="<?php echo $this->site ?>pictures/helenap/thumb_scan0004.jpg" class='intext-img-right' />
    <a href="http://www.abrbelgium.com">ABR</a> allows me the time to rest that I require for my recovery
    from my liver complaints, as it is passive for me. <a title='ABR' href="http://www.abrbelgium.com">ABR</a> is also turning out to be quite a
    positive force in our lives, offering more answers than were originally
    sought.
</p>
<p>
    This is what Mum says about me:  &quot;Helena is a co-operative and gentle child,
    who is very sensitive to others' distress.  She has a ready smile, and is
    beginning to giggle and laugh.&quot;
</p>

<h3>Updates for Helena:</h3>