THE CALM
AFTER THE STORM

THE EFFICIENCY OF
THE BRAINTEK SYSTEM

 A story written by Dr. Maness regarding his first client. To be made for television.

The sun filtered through the heavy clouds, casting a muted light over the small suburban neighborhood. Ray glanced at his phone, a jarring ringtone piercing the tranquility of his morning. It was an unexpected call from his next door neighbor. Her panicked voice echoed frantically through the receiver. “You need to get home. It’s bad. Please hurry!” Her words were breathless, each syllable laced with urgency. His heart raced as he dropped everything and sped home, unsure of what awaited him.

 As he drove, thoughts spiraled through his mind. Had something happened to their son? Was Jenna alright?

The possibilities loomed like dark clouds gathering overhead.

Pulling into the driveway, he abandoned the car with a desperate urgency, racing toward the front door. He pushed it open without hesitation, his senses assaulted by the frantic sounds within.

 Inside, chaos reigned. David’s piercing cries filled the air, slicing through the confusion like a siren. Jenna stood in the kitchen, her eyes wild with panic.

Charles grabbed their son out of her arms. In her arms, the small figure of Jemma squirmed, wailing as if the world were ending. Instincts kicked in; Ethan lunged forward and snatched Jemma from Jenna’s grasp, cradling him close.

“What’s wrong?” he shouted, his voice almost swallowed by the cacophony of fear.

“Ethan! You hurt me! I’m calling the police!” Jenna screamed, her voice thick with rage. The betrayal was evident in her glare, as if she blamed him for the chaos that had erupted within their home.

He felt adrenaline coursing through him. “Here, I’ll call them for you!” he yelled back, pulling out his phone with shaking hands. The line buzzed as he dialed, the dispassionate voice on the other end seeming a world away from the turmoil unfolding around him.

“911, what’s your emergency?” the operator asked.

“Please, my wife—she’s—” but before he could articulate the fear that gripped him, the kitchen exploded with sounds of flying utensils. Jenna, seemingly unhinged, hurled pots and pans, her screams melding into a visceral mantra: “HANG UP! GET OFF THE PHONE!”

The chaos blurred his focus, the urgency of the situation spiraling out of control. With one hand cradling David, who was growing louder with every moment, Ethan’s other hand remained fixed on the phone. “I can’t hang up, I need help!” He felt himself teetering on the edge of desperation.

Just then, the realization dawned on him. He couldn’t fight fire with fire; he needed to diffuse the situation. “Jenna, stop!” he shouted, using every ounce of authority in his voice. “We’re scaring David! David needs us!” The words cut through the fog of panic, and for a heartbeat, a tense silence enveloped the room.

Jenna froze, her hands hovering mid-air, the kitchen now scattered with evidence of her anger. Ethan took a deep breath, keeping his focus on Jemma, her little breaths hitching in defiance of the surrounding chaos. “We can’t do this. We need to talk. We need help. For him.”

The chaos receded as Jenna’s glare softened, confusion flickering across her features. As she processed his words, a wave of realization swept through the room. “What—what have I done?” she whispered, dropping the pot to the floor with a dull thud, the sound heavy and final.

Ethan’s phone still buzzed as the operator spoke softly in the background. “I’m still here,” he reminded Ethian. “We have two cars on the way”

We need to find a way to make sense of all this.” And as he held David close, the echoes of their morning filled the spaces between them—They tried to act like friends and had brought peace to the family.

The Police confused and all parties seemed at peace, the baby seemed okay. The Police gave both father and mother a stern warning and left without arresting either of them.

A New Beginning

The Calm After the Storm

By the time the police arrived, things had calmed down. In the dim light of their small living room, Ethan and Jemma sat on the couch, cradling their baby, David.

As the officers entered, their authoritative presence felt more intrusive than reassuring. “What’s going on here?” one of them asked, surveying the peaceful scene. His partner shifted uncomfortably, glancing between the couple and the baby, as if trying to piece together a puzzle.

The officers exchanged confused glances. On domestic issues, protocol dictated that they arrest the one at fault. Yet, they could see the love emanating from Ethan and Jemma. It was clear who the real victims were—David, with his fragile existence now marred by the remnants of a family argument.

“Everything’s fine, officer,” Ethan said, his voice steady, though his heart raced. “We just had a rough morning, that’s all.”

The officers hesitated, their training warring with their instinct. They were unsure who to hold accountable. Wife or husband? Yelling or loving?

In the end, they made the only decision they could. “Alright, we’re leaving,” one of them finally said, their faces a mixture of relief and concern as they exited, closing the door behind them.

Jemma’s eyes were still red from crying, but now they sparkled with love as she lovingly stroked their son’s soft hair. The distant screams faded, leaving a heavy silence in their wake.

That morning had been chaotic—an angry argument escalated over Jemma’s treatment of the baby, and the echoes of their confrontation hung in the air like smoke.

Ethan took off work the following day to take David to the hospital to be checked out.  They said he was just shaken up as happens when one is rear ended in an automobile accident,

Ethan then took him to the TriCity Behavior Center for children’s testing. We use some of those tests in our clinics today.

Facing Reality

The following morning dawned gray and cold, as if the world itself shared Ethan’s heavy heart. After a long night of tossing and turning, pondering his role as a partner and a father, he made a decision. He couldn’t stay, not while doubt lingered like a shadow over their family.

Ethan packed a few clothes, along with David’s essentials, and turned to Jemma, who was half-heartedly sipping her coffee. “I think it’s best if I move out for a while,” he said softly, avoiding her gaze. Her expression shifted, a mix of understanding and sadness crossing her features.

“Do you really think that’s what we need?” Jemma’s voice was low, but Ethan could hear the strain behind her calm demeanor.

“It’s not about what we need; it’s about what David needs. He deserves stability,” he replied, his heart aching with every word. Jemma nodded, tears brimming in her eyes, but she said nothing more.

Ethan drove away with a heavy heart, the image of Jemma and David fading into the rear-view mirror. They had a long road ahead, and uncertainty loomed over their family like dark clouds.

A New Path

Days turned into weeks, and soon, Ethan learned about the heartbreaking news from the hospital regarding David’s condition.

A pediatrician had delivered the diagnosis—a brain stem injury. “He’ll need therapy,” the doctor said, his voice clinical yet compassionate. “The TriCity Behavior Center specializes in such cases.”

Ethan’s heart tightened. David was so small, so delicate, and the thought of therapies and interventions filled him with dread.

But this was not the time for despair. With a determination sparked by love, he carried David into the waiting room of the center days later, his heart pounding with anxiety.

The first session was daunting. Therapists guided them through games designed to stimulate David’s development.

Watching his son struggle yet push forward was heartbreaking yet inspiring. Each tiny victory—a smile, a reaching hand—felt monumental.

As weeks passed, Ethan immersed himself in the treatment plans, connecting deeply with the therapists and other parents—all fighting their own battles.

Slowly, David began to flourish, inching ahead and reminding Ethan of the immense power of hope and perseverance.

A Fresh Start

Eathen and David moved to California to be closer to his family. David was extremely close to his mother. This would be a bright spot for both of them. He needs a mother and a female presence in his life. Mother needed that cute little red headed boy in hers.

Fast forward to David’s schools from grades K through 2. He did great with a 3.7 gpa until the 3rd grade.  That is when Ethen got a call from the school that David was holding the 3rd grade class back. The school was putting him back in the 2nd grade until he caught up with his classmates.

About a month later, Eathen got another call saying they placed David back in first grade and now were having to place him into Kindergarten until he catches up.

Eathen’s job had him traveling every other week in-other-words, he was home only two weeks on average per month.

The Fragile Mind of David

The sun hung low in the sky, casting long shadows across the driveway as Eathan stood beside his car, rubbing the back of his neck. He felt a weight pressing down on him—not just the physical burden of the job that required constant travel, but also the emotional turmoil surrounding his son, David.

It had always been challenging, now, raising a child with issues stemming from his brain stem, the very foundation of his nervous system.

David’s brainstem was home to his cranial nerves, and recently, its fragile condition was becoming alarmingly clear.

Eathan had always been a dedicated father, balancing his demanding job with the needs of his now special son.

When the doctors first explained the problems with David’s brainstem, he had felt a mix of fear and determination.

Eathan explored every option to ensure that David received the best possible care.

However, as David’s condition became increasingly apparent, particularly during a recent episode at school, Eathan knew he had to reevaluate their approach.

“I’ll homeschool you,” Eathan had told David one evening, eyes softening as he looked into his son’s questioning gaze.

They both knew the traditional schooling system couldn’t accommodate David’s needs.

Soon after, he met with the district administration, working closely on curriculum adaptations. They supplied books and resources, allowing him to craft a structured educational experience at home.

Throughout this period, Eathan worked diligently, often staying up late into the night after David had gone to bed. He taught David not just the subjects in school, but the life skills he would need beyond the confines of academics. They built projects together, explored the wonders of nature, and even delved into the art of storytelling. Despite the challenges, Eathan marveled at how resilient and witty David could be.

But life has a way of demanding sacrifices, and Eathan’s job often took him across the country, leaving his son in the care of grandma and daycare specialists. One day, sitting in a meeting with his employer, a man who appreciated his input, Eathan spoke candidly about the limitations travel would impose on his relationship with David.

“What if we set you up with a daycare center that accommodates children with special needs?” his boss replied, brainstorming solutions. “We can ensure they can handle David’s unique situations. Plus, we can cover his airfare as long as your work stays stellar.”

Eathan felt a flicker of hope at this prospect. Traveling with David was something he had always hesitated to do, fearing the potential stress it would put on his son. But maybe this could work.

A sense of relief washed over him as he considered the connections he could have with David—sharing experiences while still meeting his work commitments.

As the weeks passed, Eathan’s proposal was solidified, blending his work and home life more fluidly than he ever thought possible.

They set off on their first trip together, and David’s eyes sparkled with wonder as they explored a new cities.

Eathan marveled at how well their new routine fit, watching his son thrive in the embrace of new experiences.

Though David’s brain stem issues remained a concern, Eathan had learned that their strongest weapon against adversity was love and support.

By combining his professional life with his role as a parent, he discovered a path that not only nurtured David’s growth but also deepened their bond.

When they studied Benjiman Franklin, they went to the Liberty Bell, the old Franklin Laboratory where he got to do some of Franklin’s experiments and Independence Hall. He got to go to NASA Space Camp and Mission to Mars, he loved the Statue of Liberty.  What ever he was studying, he got to go there on the weekends Ethan was working in those cities.

Eathan was doing a keynote speech in Scottsdale, Arizona when he met a neurologist  from Johns Hopkins University and Lindsey Wagner and a few other interesting individuals. Wonder Woman was deep into nutrition, one smart lady. The Neurologist was 100% business but very helpful with information regarding cranial nerves and the brainstem of my son. He referred me to a specialist at the University of Cincinnati who told me the good doctor took a new assignment at the University of San Francisco.

Eathan tracked down the neurologist from the University of San Francisco who referred him to a doctor in Orange County, California.

Eathan and the doctor in Orange County said he was retiring BUT, he said to come back the following weekend and he would teach me some of the exercises he uses with his special needs clients.

His exercises and recreated them for David’s needs. I used a Java program to create them. It was designed to stimulate cognitive functions and had several benefits for David’s brain health, though it’s important to clarify that they don’t “heal” cranial nerves or “repair” the brain in a medical sense. Instead, they can enhance brain function and support overall cognitive health. Here are some ways the gamed helped David.

The Games We Play

David would deftly outmaneuver his opponents, his mind a fine-tuned engine of strategy and calculation. But a shaken baby syndrome changed everything.

Recovery was a long and arduous journey, one that left not just physical scars but a heavy fog clouding his mind.

Seeing David struggle after the incident broke the heart of his father. Eathan refused to accept that his son’s brilliant mind had dimmed forever. With determination in his heart his eyes, he embarked on a mission—not just to restore David to his former glory, but to help him rediscover joy in the simplest of things.

Ethan remembered the games they played as kids, the laughter that had once filled their home. Drawing from her studies in cognitive psychology, He took David to Dr. Maness who created a full cognitive program, just for him. He did an assessment of David’s brain. It showed him the pathways of the brain that were challenged. Dr. Maness sent signals to those parts of the brain and we saw the improvement. It took work but we did it as a team.

It started when Dr. Maness kneeled beside David and said “David, I have something for you,” he said, his voice filled with an infectious excitement. He pulled out his tablet, where he had designed a collection of engaging games. The first was a memory game that required him to match pairs of images. “Let’s give this a try,” he encouraged.

Hesitant at first, David slowly agreed. As he played, he felt a flicker of something he hadn’t experienced in a long time—focus.

Each click of the screen, every time he made a match, ignited tiny sparks in his mind, and with each attempt, he could feel the wheels of his thoughts beginning to turn again.

Over the next few weeks, David immersed himself in the games Dr. Maness created.

He built on his successes, introducing more complex challenges: word puzzles that teased his memory, strategy games that encouraged problem-solving. Each activity was designed to promote neuroplasticity, stimulating the formation of new neural connections in his brain.

He gave him audio protocols to play any time he wanted to relax. Videos that taught him to meditate. Through the videos, he could use his imagination to visit Italy, Venise, New York, Bermuda. The coral reef and so many more places where he and his dad had visited.

Then came the big day. David had to be retested to see what grade he qualified for. Remember David was doing Kindergarten work eighteen months ago.

The school administrator took Dick into another room by himself to be tested. He tested in at 6th grade everything. One full grade level above his former school buddies.

In his junior year of high school, he was hired, not volunteering but hired to repair the schools computers and audio equipment. Today, he is an IT Director at a California University. Why? Because of a caring father and his wonderful employer.

Dr. Maness worked with David for a year and a half utilizing his mind management program, his memory program and the games he recreated from the good doctor in Orange County.

Though quite long, it was written for a 30 minute television special.

If you would like to enjoy our MindSps exercises, memory, Thought Management programs, contact us today. 

Thank you for reading this script. Dr. Maness

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