Never EVER give up: Smiley walks again

Six months ago I feared her walking days were over.  In the past five years Smiley has doubled in size and weight, her legs are now permanently bent - due to contractures - despite botox injections and daily stretching.  Last summer I had to accept that she could no longer use the small walker that she used to love.  She didn't seem to like its replacement either.  I sent it back to the school for her physiotherapist to adjust and try her in it again.  But the reports were not encouraging.  She was miserable apparently, and seemed unable to make any forward movement.


I don't know of any other wheelchair-bound 15 year olds who use walkers, so I was starting to wonder if she would ever walk again.  And I might have given up, if it wasn't for the encouragement of Barbara Boucher, whose blog posts are always a huge source of inspiration and information.  


Finally this morning I took action and went up to Smiley's school to see her physiotherapist.  Further adjustments were made to the new walker, and we hoisted Smiley into place.  At first she did not look too impressed, but with huge amounts of encouragement and praise she began to move her legs correctly.  Most of the forward motion happened because I was gently pulling the walker, but her legs followed, one at a time. We went up and down the gym and then, very daringly, out into the school corridor.  People came out of the classrooms to cheer her on.  She made it all the way down to her own classroom, absolutely delighted with herself.

Wobbly photo courtesy of happiness-induced camera shake!

Smiley is walking again :)