2024 Making Connections Presentations

Our 8th Annual Making Connections Pediatric Brain Injury Conference took place on October 25 and 26 in Austin, Texas, featuring keynote speakers Dr. Brandon Crawford, Dr. Paul Harch, and Dr. Kenneth Proefrock. Below, you’ll find recordings of all the weekend’s presentations. Thank you so much for your patience as we worked to process and upload each one!

Saturday Welcome

Keynote Speakers

How Light Drives Our Brain Chemistry

Dr. Brandon Crawford

Neurosolution Center of Austin

Discover how light plays a crucial role in brain healing and development, especially for children with brain injuries. Learn how light influences brain chemistry, supports neuroplasticity, and even shapes our internal microbiome. This lecture offers fresh insights into using light to improve recovery and overall well-being.

Treatment of Pediatric Brain Injury With Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy

Dr. Paul Harch, MD

Harch Hyperbaric Oxygen Treatment

Learn how the pediatric brain is exquisitely sensitive to hyperbaric oxygen. Individualized dosing is imperative, “one size does not fit all,” tailored HBOT treatment plans are created for each child, no 2 children react the same way. As the brain heals while undergoing HBOT, Dr Harch re-evaluates and titrates the dose accordingly. Careful observation monitoring responsiveness, all along the 8 weeks, yields the best outcome. He will also discuss his normobaric tx protocol prior to receiving HBOT, now being duplicated in a medical research study at Mayo. Dr Harch has been prescribing normobaric oxygen for over 30 years- mainstream medicine is catching on!

Comprehensive Management of Pediatric Brain Injuries

Dr. Kenneth Proefrock

Total Wellness Medical Center

Learn about the comprehensive management of pediatric brain injuries, exploring factors that influence recovery and the latest advancements in treatment. Discover innovative therapies like CBD/THC for epilepsy, cell therapy for regeneration, and precise ultrasound-guided enzyme delivery. This presentation offers insights into how our clinic develops long-term strategies for neurological recovery in children, helping families navigate the many new options available.

The Effect of MNRI Reflex Neuromodulation Exercises for NFD/HIE: Positive Brain Mapping Results

Svetlana Masgutova, Ph.D.

Svetlana Masgutova Educational Institute

Dr. Svetlana Masgutova, creator of the MNRI® Method of Reflex Integration, developed a therapy protocol specifically for NFD and HIE injuries that focuses on these post-trauma deficits. She will explain the developmental repercussions of these injuries and present a research study performed on this population, in which Brain Mapping testing was performed before and after five days of intensive MNRI® therapy that included her new protocol. Unique changes in the brain wave spectrums were detected, and behavioral changes of reflex patterns and postures were observed. These results bring new perspectives on the use and effectiveness of MNRI® techniques for this population.

Ambiguous Grief

Jennifer Caballero

During this session, you will learn what Ambiguous Grief is and learn positive coping strategies to help you understand and work through the complexities of caring for a child with a brain injury and the grief of losing the child you knew before his/her injury.

Diving Into DMI; The Who, What, Why of DMI

Erin Stranahan, OTR/L & Kaitlyn Fuller DPT

Napa Center Austin

We will discuss what Dynamic Movement Intervention (DMI) is, what disciplines administer this technique, how it is used to treat children with motor delays, and who DMI is appropriate for. We will dive into the overall goal of DMI therapy, the research that is incorporated into this technique, and the tenants of practice. We will be providing insight into a typical treatment session, including therapist assessment, selection of exercises, equipment utilized, handling techniques, and progression of the exercises.

Navigating Life After 18

Barbara Bush and Amy Louis

Solutions For Special Needs Families

What parents need to consider when your special needs child turns 18. Guardianship vs Supported Decision-Making Agreement; SSI before and after age 18; SSI-Medicaid; SSDI, RSDI-Medicare; Making sure your disabled adult child will receive part of their parents' Social Security retirement benefit. And more!

A Functional Medicine Approach to Pediatric Brain Injury

Dr. Emily Gutierrez, DNP, CPNP, CNN, IFMCP

Neuro Nutrients

There is a new journey parents must embark on after a child suffers from a serious brain injury. In the traditional medical paradigm, we are often told that controlling symptoms (though medications and therapies), and accepting the level of dysfunction a child has is the best we can do. If you approach a child through a more functional medicine lens, that old paradigm has clear limitations, and often leads to hopelessness. Come and learn how evaluating a child from a functional perspective can help further support them, lead to greater restoration, and facilitate more meaningful growth and recovery.

SPML Minimally Invasive Surgery after Brain Injury

David Yngve MD

UTMB Health

Learn more about the SPML procedures. The lower extremities and upper extremities can be helped. Modalities include minimally invasive contracture releases, and alcohol nerve block injections. Casting below the knee and out to the toes is sometimes recommended. Range of motion, tone and comfort can be improved.

Connecting Through Movement: How the Feldenkrais Method Changes the Narrative

Erin Finkelstein, GCFP, M.Mus

Sound Movement Services

Awareness Through Movement® and Functional Integration® aims to help move the needle away from “fixing” your child, towards deeply observing, learning, moving and living with comfort and ease together. In this workshop, you will experience the Feldenkrais Method® first-hand, and learn steps you can take to deepen your own awareness that will lead to a higher level of quality touch and connection with your child.