This first video was shot about the first week of January. I couldn't believe he was outside "running" around and playing with friends! He left his crutches inside, he said they were holding him back. He called to me to say he'd be at a friends house about a block away. I was suprised to see he'd left his crutches at home. When he came back he burst in the door all breathless, saying he'd
jogged the whole way home! I had to go outside and see for myself!
And this second video, less than 10 days later. His improvement is amazing, truly a miracle!
We continue with physical therapy about every other week. I film his exercises and take pictures so we can practice at home daily. It's getting harder and harder to help him with the stretches because he's able to stretch further than my strength. He is gradually able to do all the exercises and stretches on his own.
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| It helps to have a professional adjust your crutches. We were way off! |
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| Sliding his heel up the wall took so much effort and concentration. |
What comfort it would have been in the hospital for us to catch a tiny glimpse into just a week or two into the future! I knew he would improve, I just didn't think it would be so soon! Our prayers of gratitude and thanks have not ceased. I will have little reminders daily of how blessed we are to be at this point. For example, we all went bowling one Saturday. I couldn't help but wonder what it would be like to have Adren watching on from a wheelchair. Or when I see him out with all his friends running around playing Zombie Tag, I'm grateful he's not watching from the window. Just constant moments of gratitude! I am amazed and so grateful!
Today he is done with crutches, out of the boot, walking home from school again and running around with his friends. A friend across the street sprained his ankle and was requesting child size crutches. Adren jumped at the chance to bring him his. He said happily,
"I don't need them anymore!"
Our first goals I set with the physical therapist were:
#1- That Adren would be able to tap his foot and wiggle his toes.
#2- That Adren would be able to RUN.
He has succeeded these goals. There is still numbness, which time hopefully will remedy. Just tonight he showed me how he can now flex is muscles around his knee and wiggle his knee cap. I didn't even realize, but he said that was something he was not able to do last week!
Take THAT, Acute Flaccid Myelitis!