My kiddo
@GardenGerty (169439)
United States
February 19, 2020 7:16am CST
I do a lot of physical therapy type things with my morning student. We use a device known as a gait trainer. If he would choose to he can walk while in this equipment.
Mostly he likes to either roll it with wheels like a wheel chair, or push backwards in it. Or just cross his legs and sit there.
Yesterday he took five forward alternating steps. I was really pleased. He needs to train his brain to do this and learn that he can get around in this way. The goal is to have him stand and walk eventually.
11 people like this
11 responses
@JudyEv (381837)
• Rockingham, Australia
20 Feb 20
@GardenGerty Very heartening after all your work.
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (169439)
• United States
19 Feb 20
At school he has OT twice a week, PT for a longer session once a week and Speech services three times per week. Other than that he is stuck with me four and a half hours a day and Jessica in the afternoons.
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@GardenGerty (169439)
• United States
21 Feb 20
@DianneN It is fun when we see progress.
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@DianneN (254949)
• United States
20 Feb 20
@GardenGerty He sounds like many of my former students.
We teachers appreciate everything you do! Truly!
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@GardenGerty (169439)
• United States
19 Feb 20
You know, I have not seen the paperwork that says so, but I believe that is his diagnosis. He has a shunt, because he had fluid on the brain, also. In addition he has what is known as cortical blindness. His eyes are healthy but the cortex of his brain that receives signals seems to have a short circuit, all or part of the time.
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@shaggin (74988)
• United States
20 Feb 20
@GardenGerty poor thing 
. A girl who is 17 now used to have to be in one of those walkers. She had cerebral palsy. Eventually she has surgery to correct her legs more so she’s able to get around very slowly with arm crutch things that go around her elbows kind of more like canes then crutches. Hard to explain.
A friend of mine is deaf from cerebral palsy.
. A girl who is 17 now used to have to be in one of those walkers. She had cerebral palsy. Eventually she has surgery to correct her legs more so she’s able to get around very slowly with arm crutch things that go around her elbows kind of more like canes then crutches. Hard to explain.
A friend of mine is deaf from cerebral palsy.1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (169439)
• United States
21 Feb 20
@shaggin Twenty years ago, when I worked at the pre school we transitioned a young man through all those stages to use the arm crutches. One reason I am not saying CP for sure is that this kiddo does not have the tight muscles and spasticity. The students I have had in the past had rigid joints and/or muscle spasms. Often they got Botox injections or they had surgery, as you say, or there was another medication they took that slips my mind right now.
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@GardenGerty (169439)
• United States
19 Feb 20
It is very similar in function to a baby walker, but it is metal, and has some braces for his upper torso in it as well as anti tip mechanisms.
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@LadyDuck (502208)
• Italy
20 Feb 20
@GardenGerty I have seen something like that in the local hospital, to train those who had some kind of surgery.
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@GardenGerty (169439)
• United States
19 Feb 20
It is. He got mad today and wheeled his wheel chair a long ways in school. I was glad of that as well.
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (169439)
• United States
21 Feb 20
@wolfgirl569 He seemed to not like having a male substitute in the music class. Other than that, running out of food makes him mad.
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@wolfgirl569 (135601)
• Marion, Ohio
20 Feb 20
@GardenGerty Sometimes making them mad is what it takes.
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@amitkokiladitya (171988)
• Agra, India
19 Feb 20
Are you talking about someone with some disability
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@GardenGerty (169439)
• United States
19 Feb 20
Yes. I work with a seven year old child who seems more like a six month old baby due to disabilities.
@amitkokiladitya (171988)
• Agra, India
20 Feb 20
@GardenGerty ohh .im so sorry for him
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@GardenGerty (169439)
• United States
19 Feb 20
It will be a long ways, but if he is motivated,he will have built up the strength to do it.
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@besweet (9831)
• Ireland
20 Feb 20
@GardenGerty Every step forward is important. I agree, he needs to stay motivated, when we do the effort we get results.
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@GardenGerty (169439)
• United States
20 Feb 20
Thanks. We get to see the school physical therapist today.
@andriaperry (118793)
• Anniston, Alabama
19 Feb 20
And I know you will have him walking before school it out.
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (169439)
• United States
19 Feb 20
This is his fifth year in school, he started coming in preschool. If he walks by fifth grade I will be happy. Even if only part of the time. He is first grade.
