The Big Test

So, today was the big test.  A day I was very excited for and also a little apprehensive for.  Today was PT at Shriners.  Last week, Seth took off in a walker after only being in a gait trainer for a few weeks.  What I didn't tell you about last week is that he went down one hall and halfway down the other hall, and then went limp as a noodle and proceeded to throw a small tantrum because he was done and we weren't.  He wanted to play.  We wanted him to work.  We coaxed and encouraged him back into the walker but he was D.O.N.E.  The session ended with me putting him into his wheelchair while he sobbed because I wouldn't allow him to play at the sink, his usual treat for doing what the therapist says.  The PT felt bad that it ended on a sour note and wished he had chosen better.  I told her that's okay, that this is chararcter development and learning that sometimes we do what we don't want to do, because we've been told, or asked, to do it, is an important lesson to learn in and of itself.  We left with him in tears. 

Fast forward to today.  I was unsure how he would react to the walker, if he would associate it with the tears, or whether his determination to walk would be the bigger motivator.  Turns out, his PT had been a little worried too.  We had nothing to worry about.  Seth was all too happy to get in his walker.  In fact, he scrambled out of my arms to get into it.  And while he did quit occasionally, after a few moments of thought, he'd get back up and go again.  Today, he completed an entire round in the walker.  And today, he got to play at the sink  :) 

In these videos, the therapist is behind him, sort of giving him support at the hip, but she's actually only resting her hands there, for him, for psychological benefit.  He can do it, and we all know that, but he gets nervous.  He feels safer if someone's right there, so we do it, but he's bearing his own weight, taking his own steps, moving his walker forward on its own.

Happy boy!

Today, we left with a walker being loaned to us by Shriners Hospital, because he's getting that good.  :)

Home four months and already independently walking in a walker.  Who would have thought?  Certainly not us.  Certainly not Shriners.  None of us anticipated his determination.  Not to this degree.  I wonder what other tricks this little guy has up his sleeve...

Up next, Part 3 of the CP series....  I promise!  Unless he starts to square dance next week.  :)