Birth Trauma: The Astonishing Story of Pierre Updated – 11/30/2016

Learning Disabilities Can Be Overcome

More than a year ago we reported on the wonderful story of Pierre. We recently had an update from his family. His extraordinary story just keeps getting better.

One of our mothers in South Africa wrote to us about her son—a young man whom we never met but whose life was greatly influenced by The Institutes.

At birth the umbilical cord was wrapped around Pierre’s neck and he was almost delivered by caesarean section. All seemed well, at first. A few hours later, however, Pierre stopped breathing and had his first seizure.

Mother says, “Later that day our baby did not even remotely resemble the one delivered earlier that day. His left hand started closing over his thumb and his left foot also showed the first signs of contorting.”

Parents were told Pierre would be permanently physically impaired, with seizures and learning disabilities throughout his life.

Pierre, six hours after birth.

Two days later, after tests were run, it was determined that Pierre had developed a massive blood clot in the cortex. Due to the extent of the trauma, parents were told that their baby would be permanently physically impaired, with seizures and learning disabilities throughout his life. The baby was immediately put on anticonvulsant medication.

Pierre’s left hand was contorted.

“Soon, we would board a plane seeking a miracle.”

Pierre’s mother remembers, “Finally, we made it home to our small African rural town with our baby, devastated by his diagnosis and prognosis, and with nowhere to turn.”

“And then one day, just by chance, a Zimbabwean friend told my husband about the techniques of The Institutes for the Achievement of Human Potential. Soon, we would board a plane for Philadelphia, not really knowing, if anything could be done about a brain-damaged child, but seeking a miracle.”

“After spending one week in April of 1994 attending the What To Do About Your Brain-Injured Child Course, we arrived back home. Pierre was a mere nine months old, and we immediately implemented all we had learned. Pierre was placed on the floor on his tummy now at all times, including during sleep. We began patterning him, with the help of my in-laws, and I began a rigorous oxygen enrichment program with him as well.”

“At times I found it frustrating to see how easily advances came to other children”

Parents know that giving Pierre lots of opportunity on the floor was essential for his mobility development.

“We celebrated the first time he crawled out of the room by himself. After all, he did spend his life on the floor. Once Pierre could creep on his hands and knees, we played games with him so he would creep for a mile in the day. Every moment awake was dedicated to the program.”

“I am convinced that there was no fitter child in the two to three year age group.”

“Once Pierre could walk, he was encouraged to walk long distances. He could soon walk a mile while playing a game in the process.”

Pierre’s walking improved and he soon began to run.

“He eventually progressed to running. We started him on the overhead ladder as soon as he could hang on. I am convinced that there was no fitter child in the two to three year age group. We were not content to label our child with learning disabilities and give up on him.”

“At times I found it frustrating to see how easily advances came to other children, but Pierre continually made breakthroughs, after much hard work on his part, and ours, one step at a time, he too would progress to the next developmental level.”

“By the age of four, Pierre appeared to move more or less normally. By five, he was physically equal to his peers. By six years of age, Pierre was winning athletic events.”

“Academically, Pierre went on to be in the top 10% of his class throughout primary school.”

Pierre now stood head and shoulders above the competition.

“Academically, Pierre went on to be in the top 10% of his class throughout primary school. I ascribed this to this early reading and mathematics program. He continues to be one of the few “readers” among his peers. His teachers have all been unaware he suffered massive brain injury as an infant.”

“Pierre has now achieved numerous academic and athletic awards, including Top 10 Academic Achiever and Best Athlete of the Year. He is First Violin on the national level, conferred by the Royal Schools of Music. He sings in the choir, and plays both the violin and piano.”

“Pierre acquired a reputation amongst his teachers and peers that he protects the weaker against bullying.”

Pierre earns another accolade to add to his trophy case.

“He is highly popular with his male and female peers. There is a constant queue of people demanding his attention. From a young age, Pierre acquired a reputation amongst his teachers and peers that he protects the weaker against bullying, and will, when the need arises, take bullies on physically in defense of others, with great success.”

“Pierre leads the rugby team as captain. Given his medical history, we were opposed to him playing such a violent contact sport, but he insisted. Once again he was equal to the task, and so far he is injury-free.”

Pierre is now trilingual and speaks English, Afrikaans and French. He continues to play the violin for his own enjoyment. And all of this success after being labeled with “learning disabilities!”

Pierre made the decision to pursue a career in the French Foreign Legion.

Pierre graduated from high school and decided to pursue a career in the military. He made the decision to pursue a career in the French Foreign Legion. The selection process to become a candidate is very difficult. When Pierre applied, there were 953 candidates worldwide. Pierre was one of the 45 candidates accepted. He did not stop there – he went on to apply for the most elite regiment in the Foreign Legion – the prestigious 2nd Foreign Parachute Regiment. He was one of 9 candidates to be selected. He has completed over 20 jumps and recently he was awarded his paratrooper wings. Glenn Doman, a paratrooper himself, would be incredibly proud.

Pierre has been awarded two service medals for protecting the people of France.

Pierre being awarded his paratrooper wings.

In addition to this achievement, he has been chosen as a Mountain Warfare Specialist and he is qualified as a Military Skier and Mountaineer. He has already been awarded two service medals for protecting the people of France. He is clearly among the elite in whatever he does.

Pierre is enjoying a life of significant achievement.

This was a young man who from birth might have been destined for a very different future, or so his parents were told. Instead, he has enjoyed a life of significant achievement in everything he has pursued. Today he is using his knowledge and abilities to protect the lives of others and to help make the world a better place. We congratulate him and his parents for his remarkable achievements.

Learn More About the What To Do About Your Brain-Injured Child course

For more information, or to enroll, Contact Ashley
Phone: 215-836-4868
Email: wtd_registrar@iahp.org