When people hear the word “stroke”, most picture it happening to someone in their later years rather a baby.

But Jill Davidson, a paediatric occupational therapist and owner of Function Junction, said she had looked after an infant who suffered a brain injury after a stroke.

Ms Davidson added: “One of my young clients had a stroke, which initially resulted in him not being able to move one side of his body.

“It’s such a scary, frightening time for a family. When you have a child, you have dreams and ambitions for your baby and when an accident or injury happens you start to question everything.

“Working in paediatrics, my client is not only the baby, but the entire family. Listening to the parent, and understanding their daily frustrations and joys is key.”

Ms Davidson was speaking as part of a series in The Royal Gazette designed to highlight Brain Injuries Awareness Month.

She explained that, as an OT who worked with children, she had to take a developmental and team approach.

She said the little boy had to learn to roll over, crawl, walk, talk and play all over again.

Ms Davidson said it was crucial to strengthen his weaker side and encourage him to use that side of his body and that simple things such as where to position a toy were important.

She added: “The work of children is play. Through play, we strengthened his motor skills, cognitive skills, attention and visual skills.

“I know this family works diligently with their son on all the activities they do in their various therapy sessions.

“His dad will come back and report what he can do now that he could not do last week. The smallest improvements are celebrated.”

Ms Davidson said it took a team of professionals to help to get a brain injury victim on the road to recovery.

She added that a team could consist of a doctor, neuro-specialists, occupational therapists, speech and language therapists, ophthalmologists and counsellors, as well as other professionals.

Ms Davidson said the ultimate goal was to help the client become as independent as possible.

Occupational therapy is a healthcare discipline that looks at a person’s physical abilities as well as their mental and emotional wellbeing.

OTs help to solve the problems that interfere with a patient’s ability to do the things that are important to them.

These include simple tasks such as getting dressed and eating, going to work, school or a community event and leisure activities such as sports, gardening or socialising.

Ms Davidson said: “OTs focus on ‘the skills for the job of living’.

“OTs and physiotherapists work closely together. We often joke that the physiotherapist will get you up and walking, but it’s the OT that will make sure you’re not naked.

“Therapy is based on what the client’s goals are and how it will help them achieve as much independence as they can.”

OTs are able to help with the development of skills such gross motor, fine motor, visual tracking and cognitive and sensory processing.

They can also assist with memory skills, self-control, planning and organisation.

Ms Davidson said she had worked with a teenager who suffered a brain injury in a road accident — one of the most common causes of that type of injury on the island.

When she saw him first, he was hooked up to tubes and unable to communicate or move.

Ms Davidson said her work at that stage concentrated on positioning his body to assist healing.

She explained: “Splinting, along with passive range of motion exercises, prevented tight muscles that would make it difficult to move later.

“It is so exciting when a client in this condition starts to move … even if it is just a toe or a finger.”

She added that her services were useful, even after he had improved enough to go home.

Ms Davidson said: “Providing caregiver information and equipment that was necessary for safety and to promote independence was key.

“Ongoing occupational therapy sessions continued to strengthen his memory, problem-solving skills, body movements and hand-dexterity skills.

“Also, finding avenues for him to volunteer and feel productive boosted his self-confidence and motivation.

“The joy seen on his face when he was helping others was incredible.

Ms Davidson added: “Now I pass him in town or see him waiting at the bus stop with a huge smile on his face. I think back to the journey he has been through and his family was there every step of the way. What an inspiration.“

Ms Davidson can be contacted by e-mailing ot@functionjunction.bm or by phone at 336-5455.