People who hold speech, physical and occupational therapy jobs are devoted to the cause of helping an Alaska girl as she battles Rett Syndrome, a developmental disorder that impacts the operation of the brain, according to a published report.
Maryjane Luntz of Fairbanks suffers from the illness that causes seizures, breathing abnormalities, challenges with learning and an inability to be demonstrative with hands, The Fairbanks Daily News-Miner reports. Her therapists help with communication skills, particularly with sign language and the decision between yes and no.
"Her communication is screaming and yelling, bringing us to places, and us trying to figure out what she's wanting," her mom told the news source. "It's kind of hard sometimes. I get frustrated, and I know she's got to be frustrated because she can't tell me."
Girls who suffer from Rett Syndrome, which impacts one in 20,000 female births, often are unable to walk. When MJ plays, one of her therapists puts her hand on her lower back as a method of encouraging strong posture.
Occupational therapists devote their professional pursuits to aiding patients' recovery from injuries, illnesses and disabilities with therapeutic practices, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.