On 3-16 June 2016, Polish Rett Syndrome Association organised a rehabilitation camp for children with Rett Syndrome at Zabajka Hippotherapy and Rehabilitation Centre in Stawnica. As many as 21 girls participated in this event. The youngest participant was 2.5 years old, whereas the oldest one was 11.
Similarly as two years before, some of the participants as well as other girls who are members of the Association were consulted by prof. Leopold Curfs, and Eric Smeets, M.D., Ph.D. from Rett Expertise Centre – GKC, Maastricht University Medical Centre. In total, 27 girls benefited from such consultations within two days. Prof. Curfs and Dr. Smeets also delivered a lecture on Rett syndrome. Consultations were also attended by Robert Śmigiel, M.D., Ph.D., associate professor at the Medical University in Wrocław, a specialist in paediatrics, gynaecology and clinical genetics; Karolina Pesz, M.D., Ph.D. from the Department of Genetics at the Medical University in Wrocław as well as Krzysztof Szczałuba, M.D., Ph.D.
During the camp, consultations were also provided by Prof. Meir Lotan from Ariel University in Israel who specialises in the rehabilitation of girls and women with Rett Syndrome and is the author of numerous publications on this subject. Within four days, Prof. Lotan consulted 26 girls. He also delivered a lecture for the girls’ parents concerning Rett syndrome.
During the camp, Zabajka employees – Paulina Linda-Boińska, Karolina Wojtecka-Sieracka, Dawid Kapoła and Beata Spendel – gave lectures on Rett syndrome – including scoliosis in this syndrome, hippotherapy and alternative communication.
We would like to express our heartiest gratitude to Prof. Leopold Curfs, Dr. Eric Smeets, Prof. Meir Lotan, as well as the owners and employees of Zabajka Hipomedical facility in Stawnica and interpreters: Emilia Thomas-Czarnecka and Marcin Głodzik for their assistance and commitment during the camp.
We are also very grateful to all the participants and their parents for this enjoyable time. See you next year.
