Airborne

As I sit surrounded by packed boxes, here is a mini-update on our third week of intensive therapy at Rehab Without Walls.  Only two days left and Sunday we fly! 

Here's a video of Heath getting some air in an amazing bungee device, and getting ALL kinds of excited.

 

Vestibular input, like jumping and swinging, is great for normalizing muscle tone -- it's interesting to me that he keeps his arms loose in this video instead of tensing them close to his body in attempt to feel stable.  He is exhilerated by the sensation of free and unpredictable movement.

Heath walked all the way around the Rehab Without Walls office park in a gait trainer today.  Hunter and his assistant Rachel encouraged him to keep going, including up a heartbreak-hill stretch that required some serious glutes (and an anti-backward-rolling lock) to conquer.  Heath nearly petered out, but the lure of possibly seeing elk in the trees kept him going across the finish line.

For some bigger kids, Hunter and Amy use a unique contraption called a Therasuit, full of resistance bands which build strength.  Heath is fascinated by it!

 

I have much more to tell about how it seems intensive therapy has helped Heath.  Interestingly, this three-week period has corresponded with a huge leap in language skills.  It might be pure coincidence, but Heath is surprising us daily with more vocabulary, better pronunciation, more conversations about things that happened in the past, and more jokes!  It might be an increase in his confidence, or perhaps stronger core muscles or new neural networks are supporting his speech.  In any case, it's a total blast finding out more about the thoughts and views of such a tiny person.  His inner preoccupations are mostly check-ins regarding his family members, friends, elk, what sounds good to eat, and reviews of recent events and the vocab that goes with them.  Also passionate protests about driving on the freeway (OUT! OUT!).  And inventories of all the yoga poses he enjoys:  "What's your MOST favorite pose?" "P'oooow!" (Plow.)

Yesterday, we bid farewell to Mandi's Special Needs Yoga class, where I've been assisting since September.  Heath came along and enjoyed a little down-time during Savasana.

He got a big hug from his friend and part-time babysitter Michaela.

I'm going to miss these kids and Mandi way too much.  Heath and I will have to come back for some drop in yoga-reunions.

I heard from a doula in Kentucky tonight about a little baby who was born last week under circumstances very similar to Heath's, and who is now in the NICU.  We are holding him and his family in our thoughts and prayers, confident that healing is already underway. 

I'm also thinking of the demonstrators in Middle East.  Before I morphed into a mom, I was an Arabic translator and historian, and memories came streaming back this week of the two years I spent in Cairo.  I wish for better things for the next generation there, mainly a sense of possibility and justice.

Off to bed.  Hope everyone is keeping warm tonight!

Comments

[Tara]

What a great video! Heath has certainly grown leaps and bounds in the past few months.

[Amy]

I hope your flight went well!! Tell Heath I miss him already!! Tell him Amy said keep crawling with your big dada muscles!

[Jessi Bennion]

Wow - so interesting to hear about your days as a translator and historian! That's very fascinating to me! Also, I am so very jealous of the types of therapy Heath has recieved... makes me want to move!

[Shawn Hendricks]

I just want to give my peace and blessings to you! My prayers are with Heath and your family! I read your story about a month and a half ago and it inspired me to attempt to wean my then 17 month old.
My daughter's name is Morgan she had an NGT. After reading your story I continued to do my research on weaning. Then eventually decided to attempt to wean. And it seems to have worked!