2021 Making Connections Conference : Past Conferences : Resources : Team Luke

Welcome to the 2021 Making Connections Virtual Conference & Resource Fair

We are so glad you are here with us and hope you will find all of the information provided both helpful and encouraging! Below you will find a welcome video from our Executive Director, Tim Siegel, and our Director of Family Services, Ronda Johnson. Following their video, we have provided a PDF download of the program in the event that you would like to access that. A physical copy of the program will be included in the package we mail you, if you selected to receive one. Finally, you will be able to view our sponsors, nonprofit partners, speakers and the presentations. In order to watch the presentations in full screen, you will want to click the little square icon on the bottom right corner of the videos. If you have any questions or issues accessing anything please email us at christina@teamlukehopeforminds.org and we would be happy to assist you.

A Message From Tim Siegel and Ronda Johnson:

Conference Program

Presentations

Navigating Pediatric Brain Injury

Dr. Brandon Crawford

No brain injury is easy, they all affect the family unit and require a tribe. In this presentation, Dr. Crawford's objective is to help educate loved ones and caregivers about what is going on inside the head of a brain injured child and offer some strategies to help and support them.

Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy Facilitates Stem Cell Implantation: Yet Another Beneficial Effect of HBOT

Dr. Paul Harch, MD

For 347 years HBOT has been thought to be a treatment for specific diseases. In fact, it is a treatment for the disease processes that underlie these diseases. Because these disease processes are shared by all diseases, HBOT is effective for a wide range of diseases/conditions. In addition to these disease processes, there are thousands of other targets in the human body that HBOT acts upon. In particular in the cells that line all of the smallest blood vessels in our body, endothelial cells, 8,101 genes of our 19,000 genes are responsive to changes in pressure and oxygen. Because of the vast array of HBOT-responsive targets HBOT is considered a foundation biological treatment. In the past 15 years research is suggesting another exciting effect of HBOT, it’s effect on stem cells. In this talk Dr. Harch will review the information that is showing that HBOT releases stem cells from the bone marrow into our circulation, stimulates stem cells at the site of injury in our body, including the brain, facilitates implantation of stem cells injected into the human body, and most recently, stimulates proliferation of stem cells in our fatty tissue that can then be harvested for use.

Current Trends in the Naturopathic Treatment of Pediatric Neurological Injury

Dr. Kenneth Proefrock

Neurological injury is the leading cause of death and disability in children the world over. The pathophysiology of traumatic brain injury includes blood-brain barrier breakdown, widespread neuroinflammation, diffuse axonal injury, and subsequent neurodegeneration. The past three decades have seen exciting treatment options emerging for pediatric brain injury patients that include hyperbaric oxygen therapy, noninvasive brain stimulation, task-oriented functional electrical stimulation, and numerous behavioral/physical therapies. Some of these emerging treatment options entail the use of autologous therapies, harvesting a tissue like blood or fat in order for it to be re-allocated to another area of the body for neuro-regeneration and repair. Autologous tissue transplantation has been shown to increase endogenous cellular proliferation and promote immature neural differentiation in the injured regions of the brain. In this presentation, we will go into some depth about the development and clinical utility of Autologous Transplant techniques with Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP), and fractions of cellular material from stromal vascular tissue (SVF) using hyaluronic acid scaffolding. We will also be discussing the use of the enzyme hyaluronidase as an adjunctive therapy for patients with dystonia, and the clinical utility of liposome based dietary supplements for children with cerebral damage.

Panel Discussion with Dr. Crawford, Dr. Harch, and Dr. Proefrock

Shoulders, Elbows, Knees, and Toes...& Everything in Between: The Orthopedic Management of Brain Injury Patients

Brian Kaufman

The orthopedic manifestations of brain injury are many and can affect all portions of the musculoskeletal system. While the brain injury may be static, many of the bony and muscular deformities that occur after brain injury are progressive. This presentation will focus on the non-operative and operative management of deformities of the arms, legs, and spine.

Neurotransmitter Testing & Supporting Brain Health

Nikki Drummond, CCN

Brain Injury is a pervasive problem in the US and worldwide, and has been called the “silent epidemic” of modern times. Customized clinical nutrition techniques can offer patients tools and resources for using targeted nutrients to support some of the most common symptoms following a brain injury such as headaches, depression, anxiety, insomnia and cognitive decline. Neurotransmitter testing is one of these tools that can be useful in helping to identify the individual nutrient needs, and it can be done from the comfort of home. I invite you to learn about neurotransmitter testing and targeted nutrient support options that are available for patients, and have been used for over two decades with great success to aid in the recovery process of a brain injury

Therapeutic Benefits of Whole Body Vibration Plates

Erin Stranahan, OT

Whole body vibration has been shown to benefit children with Cerebral Palsy, Down Syndrome, Spinal Cord Injuries, Autism and others by improving muscle tone, strength, postural control, and much more. Using different frequency zones, or speed of vibration, along with different exercises and positions, it can provide different effects to the muscles depending on a child’s needs. It can be a helpful tool for getting faster results when used in conjunction with activities within the clinic as well as with home exercise programs! Come find out how you could start using one within your child’s daily routine!

Tools for Managing Traumatic Stress

Dr. Jeri LaVigne

Traumatic experiences and other forms of traumatic stress can make life incredibly difficult and unpredictable. Using strategies like avoidance and denial as your only strategies can cause more problems than they attempt to solve. These symptoms can’t be avoided all the time, and trying to avoid them may cause you to close yourself off to opportunities, create anxiety or feel even more restrained by your traumatic experience. It may also be harmful to only have one method of coping because it may not help you every time. Rather it’s better to have an abundance of tools at the ready for when you’re feeling the scary reach of traumatic stress. So, here are some diverse coping methods to add to your toolbox.

Postural Considerations After Brain Injury

Natasha Johnson, PT, MSPT

The session will provide an overview of common postural presentations after brain injury, postural considerations in wheelchair positioning, recommendations on sleeping postures for optimal alignment and decreasing pain. A general overview on how neck positions influence visual function, cervicogenic symptoms/disorientation, and energy conservation and general stretches and techniques to stretch/relax muscles commonly tight following brain injury.

Strategies for Managing Challenging Behaviors in Children with Brain Injury

Cullen Gibbs

This presentation will include an introduction to basic behavioral principles that support effective behavior modification strategies. Participants will learn fundamental principles for behavior management including models of behavioral reinforcement and differential attention. The presentation will emphasize learning how to use behavioral strategies within everyday situations. Instruction will include case studies, videos, and other interactive activities.

What's all that buzz about MNRI?

Laurie Longest, PT

MNRI® has been referred to as “The Missing Link” for neurologically based challenges by addressing brain stem level skills instead of using the traditional therapy cortical approach. With the end goal being integration of the primary reflex patterns, MNRI® also addresses regulation of the sensory system, regulation of muscle tone, the auditory/visual/vestibular systems, oral motor coordination, and trauma recovery as parallel challenges. This presentation will introduce you to the amazing tasks of primary reflexes as a basis for protection & survival, neuroplasticity, and neurodevelopment including the creation of the nerve net system, myelination of neurons, and overall functionality of the body-brain system. The lecture will continue with an explanation of how MNRI® can pattern, or repattern, primary reflexes to achieve overall development (or redevelopment after a trauma) in motor abilities, feeding, language, cognition, and social skills. The presentation will conclude with a few case studies. Come find out how to achieve your goals by awakening your natural genetic intelligence!

Navigating Life After 18

Barbara Bush

What parents need to consider when you special needs child turns 18. Guardianship vs Supported Decision Making Agreement; SSI before and after age 18; SSI-Medicaid; RSDI-Medicare; Making sure your disabled adult child will receive part of their parents Social Security retirement benefit. You will learn about these topics and more.

Thank you to our incredible sponsors!

Please take a minute and check out our event sponsors. This conference is made possible due to their generosity and we appreciate them more than they know. Click any of the sponsor names to learn more about their work or to visit their website. Our sponsors are also resources for you and your family.

Platinum Sponsor – The Austin Center for Developing Minds

Platinum Sponsor – Neuro Solutions

Gold Sponsor – Permobil Foundation

Silver Sponsor – ATX Hyperbarics

Silver Sponsor – Neufit

Bronze Sponsor – Angels of Care Pediatric Home Health

Bronze Sponsor – Child Neurology Consultants of Austin

Bronze Sponsor – Dell Children’s Orthopedics

Bronze Sponsor – Efficient Brain

Bronze Sponsor – Harch HBOT

Bronze Sponsor – Infinity Pharmacy Speciality Services

Bronze Sponsor – Napa Center

Bronze Sponsor – Neurofit Nutrition

Bronze Sponsor – Solutions for Special Needs Families

Bronze Sponsor – Summit to Sea Hyperbaric Chambers presented by New Leaf Hyperbarics

Bronze Sponsor – Svetlana Masgutova Educational Institute

Bronze Sponsor – The Optometry Center for Vision Therapy

Bronze Sponsor – The Rainier Financial Group, LLC

Bronze Sponsor – TIRR Memorial Hermann

Bronze Sponsor – Total Wellness Medical Center

Partner Sponsor – Centre for Neuro Skills

Partner Sponsor – Freedom Concepts

Partner Sponsor – NeuroActive Spine & Rehab Center

Partner Sponsor – Nexus Children’s Hospital

Partner Sponsor – Texas Original Compassionate Cultivation

Partner Sponsor – Texas Technology Access Program, University of Texas at Austin

Friend Sponsor – RiverKids Pediatric Home Health

Friend Sponsor – Tobii Dynavox

Friend Sponsor – Young Living Oils

Nonprofit Sponsors

Below you will find a number of nonprofit sponsors that might be a valuable resource to you and your child. We encourage you to check them out when you have time. As always, we strive to be a trusted partner of yours and hope you will contact Ronda if there is any way that we can assist you and your child. You can reach her at ronda@teamlukehopeforminds.org.

Resource Fair

There is nothing quite like having the opportunity to visit with companies and organizations who serve children with a brain injury, all in the same place. Our Resource Fair is meant to provide an all access pass to our families to resources, services, products, therapies, etc., that could help their child or help them care for their child. Below is some footage of this years Resource Fair that we hope you enjoy checking out!