About DMI Therapy; the what and the why

Inti, has taught us more about strength, resilience, and unconditional love than we ever imagined. From the moment he was diagnosed with epilepsy, to eventually cerebral palsy, our lives changed. Along with the uncertainty and fear, came a promise: That we would do EVERYTHING we could to help Inti reach his fullest potential.
Every day Inti works harder than most people will ever have to. Milestones that many children reach naturally, like sitting independently, crawling, standing…for Inti require countless hours of therapy, determination, and perseverance. 

Yesterday, someone asked me a question that really made me stop and think. “What is DMI? How is it going to help Inti? Is it just hope?” The more I thought about those questions, the more I realized they hold important answers for everyone who has supported our family. Whether you’ve donated, shared our fundraiser, sent us a loving message, or simply followed Inti’s journey, you deserve to know why we’re working so hard to make these therapies possible. 
So, what exactly is DMI? Dynamic Movement Intervention is an intensive therapy designed for children with neurological conditions. It uses specific exercises to  challenge balance, posture, strength and movement, encouraging the brain and body to build new pathways. The goal is not simply to teach a specific movement, but to develop the foundations the body needs to reach important developmental milestones. 

So far, Inti has completed one DMI intensive. And while it was only the beginning, it gave us hope. These intensives aren’t a one-time thing. They build on each other, so we’re fundraising to give Inti access to future opportunities to keep growing stronger.

While Inti and I await the day we can unite with his Yaya, Jonatan, I am carrying this as a single mother, and this journey has required sacrifices I never imagined I would have to make. I made the difficult decision to leave my job to become Inti’s full-time caregiver. It was the only way I could make sure he received everything he needs. It’s a choice I’d make again in a heartbeat, because there is nothing more important to me than giving him every opportunity possible. However, that decision also means carrying practically the entire financial burden of his care on my own. 

The reality is that specialized therapies like DMI, along with travel, lodging, and medical care expenses, represent an enormous cost and, in many cases, are not covered by insurance. Many families don’t miss out on these therapies because they don’t believe in them, but simply because they cannot afford them. And that is one of the most important reasons why I share our story.

Yes, we are fundraising so that Inti can continue receiving DMI therapy. But we also want to raise awareness. Many families have never heard of this therapy and don’t know that it could be an option for their children. By sharing Inti’s story, I hope that more families learn about these opportunities, that more healthcare professionals become interested in them, and that research continues to grow around how these types of therapies can help children with neurological conditions. Over time, that could translate into greater access, better insurance coverage, and a smaller financial burden for families.

If Inti’s story helps even just one family discover a resource they didn’t know existed, or contributes to making these therapies more accessible to other children in the future, then sharing our journey will have been worth it.

To everyone who’s stood with us, thank you. Thank you for believing in Inti. Thank you for believing in all of his potential. Thank you for every donation, every time you share our story, every prayer, and every message of support.

You’re giving Inti more than therapy. You’re giving him opportunity, hope, and the chance to keep reaching for milestones that once seemed impossible

With all my love and my deepest gratitude,
 Inti’s mom and family.