The Right Therapy Isn’t Always Physical

I was disturbed to read the narrow scope of your human interest story (“The Price of Miracle,” Dec. 15) regarding the little girl, Justine, in need of money for her physical therapy following a near-drowning accident.

In addition to physical therapy, the rehabilitation process for children such as Justine optimally utilizes a team effort with occupational therapy, physical therapy, speech therapy and nursing care. Often, rehabilitation also includes recreational therapists and teachers, counselors and aides in the schools.

You made an incomplete--if not misleading--statement that read, “The only thing that can help these children is physical therapy.” What concerns me is that the article ignored the many other therapists who contribute daily to the recovery of people like Justine.

It is articles such as yours that perpetuate public ignorance of the importance of occupational therapy as well as physical therapy for recovery in the disabled, acutely ill and traumatically injured.

This keeps the government and insurance companies just as misinformed, which is why children like Justine often are denied funds for the full range of therapy they really need or why the wrong therapist (the one who can get paid) attempts to provide the right therapy. Money is making the decision on a patient’s opportunity for recovery, not educated reasoning.

LISA ANN OLSEN, Registered Occupational Therapist, Orange