A baby ate her first ounce of food by mouth for the first time more than 600 days after birth, which was a heartwarming victory for both her parents and her therapists.
Remy is a 21-month-old girl who was born with a genetic condition called Cornelia De Lange Syndrome at 31 weeks. She was born small in stature with unique arms, having two fingers on her left and one on her right.
Remy receives occupational therapy, feeding therapy, physical therapy, and specialized skills training services from The Warren Center. She has made significant gains in her development and continues to amaze her therapists.
Remy’s feeding journey
The baby’s journey with food has been really difficult from the beginning, according to her mom. Remy was fed through a tube in her nose and mouth for the first 11 months and a G-tube in her stomach since then. Her mom said they tried bottles, pacifiers, and all kinds of flavors to keep Remy wanting to eat.
According to Remy’s mom, 606 days after she was born, Remy took her first ounce of food by mouth. It took hours of work to get there but her mom says it was worth it.
Remy’s occupational therapy journey
The child’s occupational therapist shares Remy has learned to roll across the room and attempts to belly crawl with her. Remy has begun to put weight through her legs for assisted standing.
Additionally, she uses her hands to press buttons on toys, spin toys, and grasp larger toys with both hands. She brings her hands together at her middle and to her mouth. She loves to taste food.
Remy’s occupational therapist says the baby took zero percent of her feeds by mouth during her first year of life and is now taking 10 percent of her feeds by mouth. She loves to orally explore toys and mom’s fingers. She engages well and makes the most meaningful eye contact. She shifts gaze from mom and her occupational therapist in play.
According to her occupational therapist, these are all incredible accomplishments for Remy.
“There is NOT a week that goes by where she doesn’t show us all something new!” occupational therapist Bernardine Harshman said.
Remy’s mom has created an Instagram account to share Remy’s journey. Click here to follow that Instagram page.
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