Tears of joy as kids make improvements through intensive therapy sessions

SEEING his son take his first independent steps brought joy to Colin Yates.

Denmark resident Mr Yates and his wife Sally’s son Rex (2) was among the children living with disabilities taking part in the Saba Rose Button Foundation’s RehabMe Intensive Collective at the Swan Yacht Club in East Fremantle during September.

The three-week long intensive rehabilitation course finished on Friday, with 25 children taking part.

Mr Yates said Rex was born with a brain injury, which was classed as moderate to severe.

“He spent his first three weeks in intensive care and the doctors told us he would struggle to walk and speak,” he said.

“He had infant spasms at seven months, which is rare, and then he was diagnosed with disconnective cerebral palsy.

“We’ve seen an amazing difference since he’s been here at the intensive therapy. At first he was so scared and he was screaming but now he’s taken his first independent steps and he’s staring to vocalise.

“It’s an incredible feeling to see it; the therapy he’s got here would equate to one year of therapy in our regional area.”

The foundation was started by Kirst Button after her daughter Saba had a severe reaction to the flu vaccine and suffered severe brain damage and multiple organ failure at just 11 months old.

Mrs Button said the sessions gave families an opportunity for intensive therapy not offered elsewhere.

“There’s been lots of happy tears,” she said.