Learning to Crawl
When the doctors first detected my brain damage and gave Mum and Dad the diagnosis, our family was not given any definitive answers.
The doctors were very careful not to say which milestones I might or might not reach.
As such, my future has always been unknown (and still is!), but Mum and Dad and my family have pushed me, so that I know I can achieve anything I want. They have shown my that my disability does not define me. They have taught me to work hard... to strive... to reach. They have taught me to be proud of everything I achieve. I am very rarely still.... I'm constantly moving and trying. I'm determined!
All that perseverance of those close to me has paid off.
At 20 months old, I became a roller – a non-stop roller, who had to be held after each meal to make sure at least some of the food stayed down and I didn’t completely ruin the carpet! (I have reflux, too!) Mum and Dad had hoped and longed for this day, but they had also prepared themselves that it might not have happened.
And then one day, I stayed on my tummy, but every time Mum looked down at me, I was in a different place on the mat – I was moving! At 21 months, I became a mover! I was so excited! Mum was, too! She was so excited that she went and grabbed my sleeping baby sister, just to share the happiness of the moment! She send messages to Dad, so he could be proud, too.
The doctors were very careful not to say which milestones I might or might not reach.
As such, my future has always been unknown (and still is!), but Mum and Dad and my family have pushed me, so that I know I can achieve anything I want. They have shown my that my disability does not define me. They have taught me to work hard... to strive... to reach. They have taught me to be proud of everything I achieve. I am very rarely still.... I'm constantly moving and trying. I'm determined!
All that perseverance of those close to me has paid off.
At 20 months old, I became a roller – a non-stop roller, who had to be held after each meal to make sure at least some of the food stayed down and I didn’t completely ruin the carpet! (I have reflux, too!) Mum and Dad had hoped and longed for this day, but they had also prepared themselves that it might not have happened.
And then one day, I stayed on my tummy, but every time Mum looked down at me, I was in a different place on the mat – I was moving! At 21 months, I became a mover! I was so excited! Mum was, too! She was so excited that she went and grabbed my sleeping baby sister, just to share the happiness of the moment! She send messages to Dad, so he could be proud, too.
Seeing me move, albeit very slowly, had Mum overcome with emotions that are hard to describe.
She said: 'He may not be crawling and he may constantly hit his head on the couch, but we have a mover – something so many CP families don’t get. He is never in the same spot now, and we have to watch his sister, to make sure he doesn’t reach her!' |
One day, Mum left my baby sister and I on the mat while she had a shower. My baby sister started to cry. Mum had left me on one end of the mat and my baby sister, who cries very loudly, was on the other side of the room. I waited for Mum, but she couldn't hear my sister.
I hate hearing my sister cry; I worry. So, I went to her... I crossed the room to find her... I listened to her cries and I wriggled and rolled my way right across the floor, until I found my sister. When Mum came back, she saw me holding my sister's ankle... she saw me looking after my baby sister.
I hate hearing my sister cry; I worry. So, I went to her... I crossed the room to find her... I listened to her cries and I wriggled and rolled my way right across the floor, until I found my sister. When Mum came back, she saw me holding my sister's ankle... she saw me looking after my baby sister.
My theratogs suit has helped me with my movements,
which are more deliberate now. I can belly crawl to people, now! (Read more about the theratogs here.) Dexter has had to re-learn how to roll over, and how to move across the floor, following his hip surgeries. He had a hip abduction, and was in double casts for five weeks. This didn't work, so he also needed a femoral osteotomy, where his bone was cut, re-positioned and secured with screws. Recovery was difficult. He was in a brace for six weeks. These were significant setbacks, for Dexter. We were told this surgery would set Dexter back, 18 months, in his physical development. Dexter has regular physiotherapy with an excellent physiotherapist. If we could afford it, he'd get a lot more. We'll never know the impact Dexter's hepatoblastoma (Liver cancer) had on limiting his physical development. Dexter still crawls on his belly, but he is getting faster, again. |
Read more - Learning to Eat