In January 2023, Renee and I announced to the world a development that forever changed our family’s lives – especially Stone. This was when we were able to unlock Stone’s mind and watch him blossom through the Spelling methodology. Stone finally had the means to share the brilliance we always hoped—and believed—was inside.
And it’s been a wild ride ever since. He’s now closing in on his goal of graduating from high school and taking classes we couldn’t have imagined 2 years ago: Biology. Algebra 2. World History. English 11. He’s received A’s in all his classes since he began attending Brightmont Academy 2 years ago.
As exciting as this has been, today, I’m here to share another huge milestone in his remarkable journey.
One that, if I’m being honest, I wasn’t expecting to come along so quickly, if ever.
Introducing Brain Enhancement Therapy
A few months ago, thanks to Renee’s CrossFit class in Edmonds (where the universe has a funny way of putting people together), we learned about something called Brain Enhancement Therapy.
She happens to work out with Dr. Nanda from Brain Enhancement Center in Bellevue – and after learning more about the work they’re doing (particularly with kids on the Autism Spectrum) we decided (with Stone) to investigate it and once we learned more about how it worked, give it a try.
What is it?
Put simply, Brain Enhancement Therapy focuses on helping the brain communicate better with the body: strengthening motor pathways, improving regulation, and unlocking even more of the potential that’s already there.
Our areas of focus for Stone were twofold:
1) How could this help with the apraxia that has impacted him for nearly all his life? Dr. Nanda told us that this treatment had helped others who had trauma-induced apraxia (such as from a stroke or car accident). If this could help Stone gain control over his body – it would be an even bigger life changing impact.
2) Would this potentially lessen his seizures? Again, there were case studies of others who had their seizures significantly reduced from this treatment, so we were very hopeful that this would be the case with Stone as well.
We didn’t know exactly what to expect. But Dr. Nanda was confident we would see results. Stone was excited and motivated.
It began with a Brain Mapping Session – this provided a baseline from which the protocol would be set. It involved a QEEG (Quantitative EEG) as well as a computer test to determine Stone’s reflex time/capabilities.
And as soon as we began the therapy, we knew something was different.
The First Session: A Moment I’ll Never Forget
At his very first session, Renee and I were talking to Dr. Nanda about indoor playgrounds when Stone suddenly blurted out a word he had never spoken before in his life:
“Trampoline.”
No prompt.
No lead-in.
Just pure, spontaneous speech.
I think I almost fell off my chair.
I asked him, “What did you say?”
“Trampoline. Trampoline. TRAMPOLINE!”
He looked as surprised as us and later that night confirmed it: he said he didn’t expect the word to *actually* come out of his mouth – even though that’s what the brain wanted.
Since that day, the progress hasn’t stopped—it’s only accelerated. He’s now reading books and stories out loud during each session (think of it as physical therapy – except these are brain workouts). Three times each week, Stone and I make the drive to Bellevue for his sessions. In each session we see progress. Sometimes it’s very minor – sometimes more significant.
He’s working hard to get his mouth to work properly to put together the sounds and words. And he’s doing it. Hearing him read “The Cat in the Hat” for the first time made me cry tears of joy. I couldn’t believe what I was seeing and hearing.
What We’re Seeing Now:
Here’s a glimpse of what’s unfolding—and why this therapy has already changed our lives.
✅ More Speech
Stone continues to add new words to his vocabulary.
Not perfect, not effortless—but real.
Words that have been locked away for 19 years are starting to break free. Spontaneously. Appropriately. His teachers have noticed – they comment how they hear a few new words every week being spoken.
✅ Better Coordination, Faster Movement
Simple daily things like video games, online bowling, shaving, even chores – where once there was hesitation or struggle, now there’s more fluidity.
Speed.
Joy. Lots of joy.
In some cases, he’s moving 50% faster and more accurately than he was just a few months ago.
He recently was tested the same way he was with his baseline and the results are real. There are visible changes with his brainwaves and images. It gets pretty technical but here is the part that resonated with me: In his first session he was unable to independently conduct the computer test that was measuring his reaction time. In the test Stone had to click the mouse each time he saw a “Green Go” sign flash on the screen (the other sign was “Red Stop”). The images would flash at different speeds/intervals. And his brain/body was so disconnected initially that it was nearly impossible for him to time the clicks anywhere near the time he was supposed to. Dr. Nanda gave him vocal cues to click (which was easier for Stone) just to get baseline data. But at the first checkup a couple weeks ago? Stone was like a different person. Suddenly he was clicking – accurately and appropriately. Again it wasn’t perfect. But he could do it – and this was only after a couple of months.
✅ Confidence That You Can Feel
Stone feels the changes too. He’s spelled out to us how amazing it feels to “finally have my body do what I want it to.” And you can see it all over him – in the way he carries himself, the way he smiles more, the way he shares his wins with others.
Here is an example of how his confidence and initiation have began to skyrocket: Tuesday evening he walked up to me and said “haircut tomorrow.” Again, this may not seem like a big deal to most people but this just had never happened. I asked him again to confirm “do you want a haircut tomorrow?” He said “yes – go to the car, haircut.”
First, it’s so cool that he cares enough that he wants a haircut (unlike his, ahem, twin brother) but second, it’s just so huge that he can now begin to initiate what he wants – and wants to do.
✅ Spreading Joy Like Only Stone Can
One of the best parts?
He’s started his own little joy-sharing campaign, walking around saying “Happy Happy!” to pretty much everyone he meets. Teachers, neighbors, strangers – half of them give him high-fives, the other half just stand there confused. 😆 Trips to QFC and Costco have never been more entertaining.
(But honestly, Stone doesn’t care – he’s too busy spreading happiness).
✅ Inspiring Others
He’s already started encouraging his fellow nonspeakers during his weekly group calls, sharing how good it feels to experience progress – to fight for it, to celebrate it.
The Future Isn’t Fixed
And yes, this is Stone’s story—but it’s also a reminder of what’s possible.
Of what happens when we stop accepting limits someone else decided were permanent.
And it shows how little we know about how the brain works in the world of Autism. In the world of nonspeakers. It wasn’t long ago that his school district thought Stone’s potential was limited to stacking boxes and counting coins.
We’re still at the beginning of this new chapter, but we can see the next exciting chapters shimmering ahead of us.
And so can Stone. He has already told us that someday, he wants to give speeches. And yes, he is still planning on attending Harvard to study law and continue to help non-speakers.
And knowing him the way I do?
I’m not betting against him.
Not today.
Not ever.
He’s turning the page – and this next chapter is going to be unforgettable.
Hello,
I am wondering if you are available to work with my son, he is 11 years old and has been spelling for the last 3 years. We would love to work with you if possible, we are pretty close to Bellevue.