A Letter to Parents of Children with Cerebral Palsy
A message from Dr Aleksandra Ivančić, mother of a child with cerebral palsy and founder of Vukov Centar.
Dear Parents,
As the mother of a child with cerebral palsy and a doctor who has spent years working on the rehabilitation of children with neurological challenges, I wanted to share a few thoughts with parents who are facing this challenge for the first time.
The path you are on is not easy. Along the way you will encounter different information, advice, therapies, and promises. That is precisely why I want to share a few important lessons I have gained both as a doctor and as a parent.
A Message to Parents
01
There is no magic solution
There is no device, method, or therapy that will solve the problem overnight. Be cautious of promises that sound too good to be true.
Rehabilitation is a long process that requires time, patience, and continuous work.
02
Observe your child
Every child is unique and progresses at their own pace. Some children progress faster, some slower, while for most children with severe brain damage our goal is to maintain the current state and prevent deterioration and the development of complications such as spinal or hip deformities.
03
Time is precious
In the habilitation of children, time is one of the key factors — but it is important not to change methods too frequently. Every therapy needs to be given at least six months.
04
We are running a marathon, not a sprint.
Habilitation is not a short race. We are not 100-metre sprinters — we are marathon runners.
Distribute your strength, energy, patience, and resources for the long haul — this is a race of 42km and 195 metres... and more.
05
Acceptance is the beginning of strength
One of the hardest moments for us is accepting reality.
When you are first able to say out loud: "I have a child with cerebral palsy" — without the weight in your voice and without tears in your eyes — that is when your personal growth begins. That is the moment you accept your life's challenge — and your child.
Our personal experience
My husband and I went through a long journey searching for the best rehabilitation for our son.
We travelled across Europe and the United States looking for methods that could help our child. We encountered different approaches and therapists and gained invaluable experience.
That search led us to the idea of creating a place in our region where parents and children can receive quality habilitation without long and exhausting journeys.
Our approach
We work with your child with care, dedication, and faith in their progress.
Our goal is to offer parents several modern habilitation methods in one place, and to find — together with them — the best path for each child.
We see every child as a unique individual with their own potential, which we develop in line with their abilities.
Dr Aleksandra Ivančić
Specialist in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
Founder of Vukov Centar