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The Philadelphia thank you
By Cam Tait
March 6, 2006
PHILADELPHIA, PA // A big brown door just off the main foyer of the Institutes of Achievement for Human Potential slowly swung open. A gentleman wearing brown corduroy pants, beige sports jacket and patterned tie made his way from his dignified armchair, slowly walking across the hardwood floor. A smile crossed his face, bending his white beard - the same beard I remember as a kid. He put out his hand. "Good to see you again," he said. "It's been a while."
Indeed, it had. After 36 years, I was reunited with Dr. Glenn Doman, the man who developed an innovative treatment program for brain injured children. I was born with cerebral palsy and didn't have very much motor control for the first five years of my life. My parents took me to the Institutes 18 times over a five-year period. I was assessed every three months and then was given new exercises to do back in our Edmonton home. Within five years of treatment, commonly called patterning, I had gained enough control to sit up, open and close my hands, and speak. I now use a wheelchair to get around.
I always wanted to go back and say thank you to the man who had given me so much. I also wanted to learn more about the treatment and the philosophy behind it - and even about my own disability. As a reporter for more than 25 years, I thought I could ask any question, in any situation, to anyone. But as I sat beside Dr. Doman I was truly tongue-tied. I looked at the huge portrait of him reading to a young child. I blurted out the first words that came to mind: "How did you start the Institutes?" Dr. Doman gently held my right elbow and served up a query of his own. "How couldn't I?" he asked.
Now well into his eighties, Dr. Doman started the Institutes in 1955. His idea was simple: to treat the brain injury by training the undamaged brain cells to take the workload from the damaged ones. He told me it was "wildly out there" 50 years ago and the medical profession, by and large, hasn't embraced the idea in North America. Yet, other countries see the treatment as I do...life-saving. And, yes, it did save my life - not that I was medically dying, but it did give me a wonderful quality of life. In fact, the Brazilian government knighted Dr. Doman for his work with children.
After a spine-tingling 60-minute chat, I went for a tour of the facility. I remembered the lunchroom and the same brown panelling on the walls downstairs in the treatment rooms. We went outside and walked by the flags of all the countries that endorse the Institutes' work. I was embarrassed the Canadian flag wasn't flying in the wind.
Dr. Doman still gives lectures to new parents with brain-injured children who are undergoing the treatment. His daughter Janet, who has been around the Institutes since she was nine, now operates the facility.
I returned from Philadelphia on my 47th birthday, December 10th, 2005. Every day since then I realize more just what a lucky man I am; and what wonderful parents I am blessed with who took a huge gamble for our entire family.
The trip was beyond my dreams. It was truly amazing. And it gave even more meaning to the two most important words I ever say: thank you.
For more information visit www.iahp.org.
Cam Tait is a sports reporter for the Edmonton Journal. He covered charitable issues for almost 20 years. Thoughts, comments, ideas or a simple hello are welcomed at cam@charityvillage.com.
Opinions expressed by columnists are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views of CharityVillage.com®.
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