Authored By LearningRx Chattanooga

Brain Beat is a column sponsored by LearningRx Chattanooga. Nine-year-old Chattanooga student Danyel Turbessi is no stranger to tough challenges. At just 18 months old, Danyel contracted tuberculosis (TB) which quickly led to a diagnosis of meningitis. Tragically, he became paralyzed and was legally blind as a result of his illness. Though the odds seemed great, the Turbessi’s were hopeful that their son would not only survive the illness but would thrive. They worked closely with his doctors and helped him defy the odds. “He got better. It’s a real miracle. Danyel can now see well out of one of his eyes. He also regained his ability to walk,” Carmen Turbessi, Danyel's mother, said. According to the Turbessi’s, Danyel has already overcome more challenges at an early age than most people encounter in a lifetime. Danyel’s mom says that although her son’s remarkable recovery has surpassed her expectations, he still had tremendous challenges with his developmental and cognitive skills. When doctors diagnosed him with Dyslexia and ADHD and prescribed medications, the family decided to try an alternative option to medication to help Danyel combat his many learning struggles. They enrolled him in personal brain training at LearningRx in Chattanooga after they noticed he was having trouble focusing, remembering and completing tasks at school and at home. “Before he came to LearningRx he was very frustrated and angry and had lots of learning struggles. Now he likes school. I’ve also seen the changes at home. He’s reading better and is able to focus and do his homework. He’s no longer throwing tantrums when it’s time to do homework,” Carmen said. In recognition of his achievements, this summer Danyel was nominated by the staff at his local brain training center for the national LearningRx Student of the Year contest, which celebrates the top brain training results around the country. "We are proudest of the fact that Danyel does not give up any more," center director Michelle Hecker-Davis said. "He truly realizes that with hard work anything can be achieved... this young man knows what it means to experience the feeling of being truly overwhelmed and then experiencing the feeling of overcoming these challenges." And according to Danyel, third grade is not as tough anymore and he even feels much happier. “I knew I needed help. I was angry and frustrated. Now I’m happy and not frustrated. Basically, I like LearningRx because it helps me do a lot of things,” he said. Danyel’s mom says after undergoing brain training he is doing much better with his homework, reading, writing and even his overall attitude has become more positive. “When I first found out about LearningRx I was frustrated after everything he’s gone through. I had searched for a way to help Danyel. I felt hopeless. And now that we’ve been coming to LearningRx I am hopeful. Nothing is impossible for him now,” she said. LearningRx Chattanooga, located near Hamilton Place Mall, is part of the largest one-on-one brain training organization in the world. With 80 centers in the U.S. and locations in over 40 countries around the globe, LearningRx has helped more than 100,000 individuals and families sharpen their cognitive skills to help them think faster, learn easier and perform better. Their on-site programs partner every client with a personal brain trainer to keep clients engaged, accountable and on-task—a key advantage over online-only brain exercises. Their pioneering methods have been used in clinical settings for over 35 years and have been verified as beneficial in peer-reviewed research papers and journals. To learn more about LearningRx research results, programs and their 9.6 out of 10 client satisfaction rating, visit https://www.learningrx.com/.