My son Matthew is 7 years old and was born 3 months premature at 27 weeks weighing 216 703, he stayed in special care for 11 weeks. Once home he was under a pediatric consultant at the local hospital who at 15 months diagnosed Cerebral Palsy or Spastic Diplegia with some degree of delayed fine motor Control. His academic ability and speech did not seem to be affected.

He has had physiotherapy from this early age and lots of encouragement through play to help keep him as flexible and motivated as possible. By the age of 2 years he crawled for the first time and at 3 ¼ years he took his first steps- all be it stiff, unsteady and on his toes. Since this time we have worked very hard with Matthew to help him to maintain the movement he has got in order to cope with his numerous growth spurts. We have also sought other alternative therapies.

Since starting Matthew on G-Therapy in February 2000, the next day after taking the first tablets his tone in his legs had reduced and in Matthew’s words ‘Felt like Jelly’. His right ankle was more flexible (which had always been the tightest) and we could rotate his feet more easily, and he was able to spread his toes apart for the first time.

After a few weeks he stood straighter and now does not lean to one side when standing. After 2 months his handwriting had improved to the extent that he can now write on the line a lot smaller and does not slope his words across the page, his drawing has improved and he can now use a ruler with confidence.

More recently he has said he can feel when his knees are back and straight and is just beginning to heel strike when walking as his right foot is almost down to the ground which he wasn’t able to do before.

After 5 months he was able to stand on one leg for a few seconds at a time which means his balance is developing and on 23rd, July 2000 he went up and down 3 steps on his own without holding on to something which he could not do before G- Therapy.

We as parents are very pleased with the changes that have taken place, and are seeing continual improvements therefore we will continue to keep Matthew on G-Therapy.

MRS JANICE JOSLIN