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Jul 08 2012

My Youngest Client

… was just three days old, when he stopped breathing. His life was saved by quick-acting paramedics, who whisked him to the hospital after connecting all kinds of electronic gadgets that took over the respiratory function of his young lungs.

I met the child two days later, when his parents asked me to visit in the hospital. The medical personnel wanted to keep the baby on life support for 30 days. The parents didn’t. (There are unwelcome side effects to doing that.) They wanted to give his little lungs another chance – while under the careful observation of the pediatric ICU team.

At the parents’ request I performed a very short reflexology session. Seeing the immediate results on the high-tech monitor was – well, jump-for-joy elating.

As I explained to the eager parents, the brain, not the lungs, regulates breathing. It was the young boy’s brain that was just a little “slow” to assume its responsibility of communicating with the diaphragm, the primary muscle that allows the lungs to draw air into the body. (We later learned that this is not uncommon with newborn infants.)

Using my baby finger – the fifth digit – I gently made contact with the brain, diaphragm, lung and bronchial foot reflexes, with a focus on the brain. The increase in the baby’s intake of air was remarkable. I showed the parents where to touch their number one son’s feet and left them with instructions to do so for five minutes at a time, several times a day. They brought their beloved boy home two days later.

Have you ever had the joyous privilege of giving reflexology to a newborn?

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Written by Karen Ball · Categorized: General · Tagged: Foot reflexology

Comments

  1. Rebecca says

    July 8, 2012 at 10:05 pm

    Wow!!

    Reply
  2. Flavia says

    July 9, 2012 at 1:51 am

    That was phenomenal It is such an amazing story on refleology.VIVA! REFLEXOLOGY!

    Reply
  3. John says

    July 13, 2012 at 8:29 pm

    Thanks for the uplifting story Karen. I have never worked on an infant yet but your story encourages me not to be intimidated if the option becomes available. Amazing things are possible through intentional touch. I’m glad to be part of this fascinating modality.

    Reply
  4. Dayl Kumpa says

    July 16, 2012 at 10:59 pm

    This is a wonderful story and such a statement about the value of reflexology. And the trusting parents…in themselves, in you, in reflexology.

    As you know, I had an opportunity to work on a new born as I was present for the home birth of Yael, Jennifer’s two year old. There were no health issues, per se, just the trauma of showing up on the outside. So beautiful to see them open themselves up and relax. We are so blessed.

    Reply
  5. Siene says

    July 22, 2012 at 8:06 pm

    Thank you for sharing your experience of working on such a young patient! Absolutely remarkable and reminds me why I love bodywork and the marvelous ability of intentional touch to help one heal. I love your blog Karen and always look forward to your new ones.

    Reply
    • Karen Ball says

      July 23, 2012 at 9:58 am

      Thank you Siene.

      Reply

Trackbacks

  1. Reflexology | Massage Magazine | Massage Blog says:
    July 16, 2012 at 10:59 am

    […] I met the child two days later, when his parents asked me to visit in the hospital. The medical personnel wanted to keep the baby on life support for 30 days. The parents didn’t. Read more. […]

    Reply

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