Living With War-Related Illness and Injury: Western Blind Rehabilitation Center

Monday, June 25, 2012

Western Blind Rehabilitation Center

Sean was accepted into the Comprehensive Neurological Vision Rehabilitation (CNVR) program at the Western Blind RehabCenter (WBRC) in Menlo Park, CA. On February 21^st we flew to California to get him admitted into the program. Through the VA’s Caregiver Program, I was able to spend the first week and a half at the blind center with Sean to help him adjust and to observe the program.

The staff and program at WBRC were impressive! We both felt at ease and Sean settled into his routine. His day included: Manual Skills where he learned woodworking, ceramics, leatherwork, and gardening; Orientation and Mobility which offered a refresher on his mobility and cane skills along with training on the TrekkerBreeze; Living Skills focused on cooking, cleaning, and using devices such as the Milestone to better organize his day; Visual Skills emphasized using the Victor Reader Stream for his audio books as well as using proper lighting and scanning techniques; CNVR training instructed him in use of the iPad and his computer, and introduced him to Interactive Metronome (IM). IM uses rhythm to help reset the brain’s timing and to improve a variety of functions including memory, concentration, and focus. Sean will be continuing IM therapy at home.

Before I returned home we took the Caltrain into San Francisco for the day. We went to Pier 39 and took a boat tour of the bay around Alcatraz and under the Golden Gate Bridge.

I returned for the family training portion of the program on May 9^th. We met with the neurologist and with Dr. Cockerham and discussed the results of the MRI. The high-resolution MRI did detect areas of brain damage on the right side in the frontal lobe, temporal lobe, and deep white matter. While there is not visible damage in the occipital lobe (visual center of the brain) vision travels throughout the brain and all parts of the brain play a role in what the brain sees. Sean’s damage is on the right side, and his weak eye is his left since vision crosses the brain while it travels to the back of the brain. Testing indicates that Sean receives very little visual information through his left eye. When presented with a light bar approximately four feet long with flashing lights, Sean’s eyes responded automatically to lights on the right side, but did not respond or “jump” to any stimuli from the center of his body to the left. While there is no clear “x marks the spot” answer, I respect that there are things medical science cannot explain and that the doctors were up front and honest. The instructors who worked with Sean every day did not find any indication of conversion disorder. At this time continued vision rehab, such as the CNVR program, is recommended for possible improvement over time. Sean will likely return to the WBRC in 8-12 months.

Overall, we were thrilled with the program and found the staff, training, and accommodations to be top notch! HUGE thanks to John and Dan of the CNVR program, as well as to Nikki, Anita, Paula, Matt, Tony, Nicole, and all the nursing staff (and anyone I forgot)!