The treatments children with cancer have to go through often leave them in a lot of pain. But thanks to a cutting edge therapy, some kids are getting relief. It's called therapeutic touch, but there's no physical contact during this procedure. That's because instead of touching the body, the hands are placed on a patient's energy field to help heal and relieve pain.
Ilian, 8, has been through a lot. A year ago, she was diagnosed with bone cancer in her leg. To avoid amputation, doctors replaced her leg bones with prosthetic implants- a procedure that left Ilian in a lot of pain.
"I have anxiety and strong pain, "Ilian said.
"After the surgery she received medicines, normal medicines, for pain, morphine, but she didn't feel relief with that, " Ilian's mother Iliamar Torres said.
So nurse practitioner Mary Jane Ott suggested something else, a procedure called therapeutic touch. In this therapy- Mary Jane moves her hands along Ilian's "energy field."
"A lot of times people will feel heat, or density, sometimes you'll feel tingling, sometimes I'll feel something that feels a little prickly," Ott explained.
A combination of ancient healing techniques- therapeutic touch tries to get rid of those hot, tingling areas, relieving pain and helping patients feel calmer. After Ilian's first round of therapy- the difference was noticeable.
"I feel relief and relaxed, " said Ilian.
"I continue [to be] surprised, how she looks and how it's worked for her, " Iliamar said.
Mary Jane taught Ilian's mom how to do the therapy herself.
"It's very safe, you don't have nothing to lose, and maybe you can gain a lot," Iliamar said.
It's important to point out that therapeutic touch isn't intended to replace other medical treatments, it's designed to be used in addition to them as an extra way to relieve pain and stress.
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