ALEX GOES ALL THE WAY

A new life for Alex who is now intellectually and physically excellent.

As a baby, Alex cried constantly as he was too sensitive to sound, water, and foods. He was irritable and not a happy baby. At 12 months of age, following an illness and a vaccination, Alex lost the speech he had started to develop, and his ability to eat solid foods.

Life was difficult for baby Alex.

By 18 months of age, he was spending too much time engaged in repetitive actions like clapping and flapping his hands, and he was diagnosed as autistic.

“I felt that my whole life was falling apart. All the dreams I had for Alex suddenly were vanishing.”

Alex had no language and flapped his hands constantly.

Alex’s mother recalls, “When my son was diagnosed with severe autism at the age of 18 months, I felt that my whole life was falling apart. All the dreams I had for him suddenly were vanishing. I remembered crying every day, feeling hopeless, and having so many questions that nobody could answer for me. After so many doctor’s appointments I always heard the same thing, ‘Your son might never be able to talk, run, or have a normal life.’ Even simple tasks like feeding him or dressing him were so hard.”

At three years of age, Alex could walk but not run. He only said one word. He did not feel pain, hot or cold, but he was overly sensitive to light touch, sounds, and tastes – getting dressed or taking a bath were excruciating for him. He was chronically ill with frequent respiratory infections, and he had digestive problems and many allergies. He slept poorly and was prone to temper tantrums.

Within a few months of treatment Alex went from saying only word to saying all the colors and all the letters of the alphabet.

Mother attended the What to Do About Your Brain-Injured Child Course in Philadelphia at The Institutes for the Achievement of Human Potential. She then began a treatment program with him at home using all she had learned.

Within a few months of treatment Alex went from saying only one word to saying all the colors and all the letters of the alphabet. He began to request things using his speech and could count from 1 to 10. The repetitive movements and his hypersensitivity disappeared. The nutrition program that his mother implemented was important to stop the frequent illnesses that Alex had; he was now very healthy.

Alex adored reading

Alex enjoyed his early reading program with his best teacher, his mother. Alex’s mom used the book, How To Teach Your Baby To Read by Glenn Doman, to help guide her in teaching Alex.

Alex loved learning to read and progressed rapidly

Alex began reading very quickly; in fact, reading was great for his language development. He adored reading – it opened a new world of learning for him. In this video, Alex shows off his new ability.

Now Alex spoke in full sentences, was able to run, to ride his tricycle, read commercial books, and express his feelings

His parents were very pleased by Alex’s results. They returned to The Institutes for an appointment so that Alex could be evaluated by the staff and prescribed a specific treatment program tailored for Alex. He accomplished a good crawling, creeping, running, and brachiation program after his first appointment at The Institutes and as he began the Intensive Treatment Program.

Alex loved to learn, and although Mother could not read or write music or play an instrument, she taught Alex the musical notes using Bits of Intelligence cards. As a result, he began to teach himself to play his little toy piano.

Here is Alex playing “Happy Birthday” to Glenn Doman at three years of age.

Brachiation helped Alex to build a bigger chest and improved his respiration, his manual competence, his convergence and his language.

At four years of age, Alex had already come a long way.

Within a year on the Intensive Treatment Program, Alex had earned four major Victories – Reading, Understanding, Running, and Writing. Mother updated us on Alex once again “He is talking in full sentences, running, riding his tricycle, reading commercial books, expressing feelings, can count up to 100, knows all the states of the United States, and I can go on and on…my dreams for my son are truly back.”

Mother continued working hard with Alex at home, with added emphasis on his nutrition program. She found this to have a strong influence on Alex’s health as well as his behavior and speech development.

Alex continued to play the piano. He not only had a good ear for music, and he could easily play by ear the music he heard.

In some areas now Alex was above his age level

Alex writes, “I LOVE YOU MOMMY.”

When Alex was five years old, his mother wrote to us about his musical ability once again “He is composing now… …usually after running or brachiation, he goes to the piano. I let him play for 5 minutes, so he plays little pieces of songs he creates. One day I asked him if I could make a video of one of his pieces so people all over the world could listen to it. He got very excited about that and finished his song on the video. His dad was recording and as you can see his eye contact is much better, he was looking and smiling at me.

He knew he was doing a great job. He named his song ‘Arco iris’ which is “Rainbow” in Spanish. Now he is working on two other songs that he is naming ‘Journey in a Balloon’ and ‘Little Bell.’ I taught him the musical notes from The Institutes bookstore Bits of Intelligence, but he surpassed me, since I do not know anything about music. He has taught himself everything else he knows. As you taught us ‘The brain grows by use’ and now he is able to teach himself, too.”

Here is the original composition by Alex at five years of age, he is composing it as he goes along.

By six years of age, Alex was intellectually, physically, and socially excellent, as well as very healthy. He was at least at his age level in all areas – and in many areas he was above age level. He impressed everyone he met with his intelligence and his wit, physical ability, kindness and social ability.

Alex with his certificate of graduation. He is now a symbol of the potential of all kids.

We were very proud to graduate Alex Marquez from The Institutes Intensive Treatment Program and we had every confidence he would continue to succeed and surpass his well peers in all he did.

Alex at his graduation with his delighted parents, and his proud staff advocate, Susan Aisen.

We were not mistaken! At eight years of age, Alex continued to excel- he was invited to attend The Evan Thomas Institute International School on The Institutes campus and did superbly in every challenge presented – including learning to read and write in Japanese, his third language; becoming a computer programmer; performing a major role in a Shakespearean play.

Bottom and Titania enjoy a moment together. Alex played the leading role in Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream. A particularly challenging role because of the difficulties with hearing and speaking wearing a donkey’s head!

Before his ninth birthday, Alex took an examination from the Royal Conservatory of Music which is recognized worldwide. Although only 11-year-olds and up are eligible to take the exam, Alex was permitted to sit the exam, and achieved honor roll grades. Mother reminded us once again that she is not musically literate. Alex used all the information he had taught himself about music to do so well on the exam.

Here is Alex at nine years of age, already a member of a string orchestra.

The world is his stage, and he continues to shine on!

Alex Today

Here is Alex at age 11

Now he is enrolled in on-line schooling, like just about everyone else has been, but he takes classes in English in the United States, and in Spanish in Mexico, and he is excelling in both. His grades are all 10s and his teachers describe him as “an excellent and enthusiastic student who enjoys participating, has a great attitude, is very responsible with his homework, and comprehends easily the materials presented.”

Alex is on his fourth language now, French, and loving math.

Mom writes “I gave him the opportunity to choose if he wants to go back to homeschooling or to school now and he says he definitely wants to go back to homeschooling because he can go faster, finish his assignments earlier and have more free time to be with friends.  Alex says “Teachers tell me please do not get ahead of the class. In homeschooling I don’t have that problem”.  

Mom goes on to say “Socially, his teachers describe him as a very well-behaved boy who respects his classmates and is willing to help them when necessary.   He has many friends, and in the after-school basketball class, he was the first one to win the sportsmanship award.”

“When they put in him in groups at school, I can hear him helping others and leading the group to finish the assignment, while years ago, that idea would have never crossed my mind!” He continues to run every day. Two years ago, he learned how to skate, and he swims in the summer.”

Alex, like all kids his age, loves to ride his bike.

When his family goes to trampoline parks, he can even do flips in the air

“And most of all”, his mother says, “he enjoys life, like any other kid”

Most recently, Alex was asked to compete in the Fort Worth Music Teacher Association Recital. Alex enjoyed playing some new pieces, and later, learned he had won first place in the solo piano competition, a happy surprise!

Here is Alex the little toy piano he had as a three-year-old now replaced by a Steinway Grand.

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Alex just turned 12. His math teacher told mother that Alex had achieved a grade of 98 for the semester, the best grade in his class, and he is the youngest. His writing teacher said Alex is now at the high school level.

 The story of Alex is not over – far from it. It is really just the beginning of his story. The path he is on today is a pathway to excellence. This is not the pathway he started on. Thousands of children all over the world are labeled, as Alex was, with what is assumed to be an unchangeable condition. His parents were repeatedly told he would never change, he would never be equal to his peers and to accept the dismal future that lay ahead for Alex. They did not accept these predictions. Instead, they looked for real answers and found them in stimulation and opportunity. They discovered the family is the answer.

Today Alex is well beyond his peers. It is not hard to imagine that he will continue to use his considerable abilities to make the world a better place.

Alex is always happy, always smiling, always on top of his game.

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

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