Sam McKamey & Jessie Kiser
Karns, Tennessee
Locally made robotic equipment helps with flexibility issues
"Knoxville News Sentinel" November 2009
.....Recent preliminary studies show that robotics therapy, which uses machines to help patients make repetitive body movements, could possibly force the brain to develop new connections after injury or illness.....
Letter about Sam's Improvments after the Quadriciser
My name is Jesse Kiser and I work as a teacher's aide at Grace Christian Academy in the Karns community of Knoxville, Tennessee. My specific job is to serve as scribe and full-time assistant to Sam Mckamey, a 6th grade student who suffers physical limitations caused by Cerebral Palsy. Sam is limited in his fine motor skills, therefore he needs help preparing his plate to eat and he cannot walk without the help of a walker. He cannot toilet himself, nor can he do a lot of the things that we need our fine motor skills to accomplish. He is a very bright and hard working individual who does not consider himself less fortunate than anyone else, therefore he does not look for sympathy or pity, he just wants to be a regular 6th grader, and do the things expected of him. He cannot write, very well. I do most of his writing for him. He is a sixth grader working for the most part on a grade level, with only a few modifications for reading, as his disease also effects his ability to track as he reads.
This is my 3rd year to work with Same and I have seen him grow mentally and physically to some extent. When I first began with him in the 4th grade, he would not sit up much as he did his work. At recess each day he would try to catch a round playground ball but he had a lot of trouble with it at first, but with work and patience he got to where he could catch 10/10 throws from me standing about 6 feet away. He would also throw the ball back to me.
My purpose for writing this note is to speak about what I witnessed Friday, Nov 13th. Sam checked out of school early Friday and left to go try out the Quadriciser. He used to go to therapy once a week before, and this was just another attempt to find something to help him gain strength and stability.
What I saw when he returned was nothing short of miraculous. His face looked different and his attention span, (something I struggle with him about on a minute by minute basis) was different. He sat up straighter and his eyes looked bright and he was very much alert of his surroundings. The rest of his day at school was easier as well, I was not constantly fighting for his attention. He was really in there today.
I am extremely encouraged about what is in his future as he continues to grow and work his body and his mind at the same rate. That is the thing about Sam, he is not a quitter, and he will never give up until he feels like he has done his best. I really do not know much about this machine or what it is supposed to do, but I will say that the change I saw in my little friend cannot be priced. I excitedly look forward to being there to help him as he develops and grows mentally and physically.
Sincerely,
Jesse Kiser