Parker's Promise

Tonight I am so incredibly grateful. Parker walked in his gait trainer for the first time tonight since he started the Sabril back in November. He walked several laps around the kitchen. He would walk in a straight line down one side of the kitchen and I would give him a bit of Graham cracker. Then turn him and go to the next wall. Then again, around and around the island. It brought me to tears he was walking so well.

When we started the Sabril I was so incredibly grateful that the seizures stopped, but so very worried and sad that his innate drive to move and try was gone. He was often limp and content to just sit and chew. He would not walk anymore. At all.

Plus with the move, therapy has not been as consistent and it is hard to be motivated when it is so discouraging. Even just this week I put him in the gait trainer and he would only go a few steps and then stop.

The last two days have been awesome. I patched his good eye for much of the day yesterday and I think it really helped. Yesterday I was working on having him roll over. I would put a plate with 3 pieces of food just out of his reach and he would have to roll to get to it. Food is a great motivator, especially at mealtime. :)

I was doing this earlier this week and he would feel around for the food, but not seem to see it. Today he was actually looking at it and continuing to look as he rolled towards it. His drive is sooooooo much better today.

My sister once said about how hard Parker worked and tried "how many 2 year old do you know with a work ethic?" I am so so so so so grateful to see him getting that drive to try back. I have missed it. I really hope it continues and we can have a great week. I sure love this little guy. And those wonderful siblings of his. I am one lucky mom.