lokomat pics

Here are the pics of the Lokomat...you can see how the robotic legs are strapped to Drew's legs and how it all works together. There is a pulley system, the computer can be adjusted to add more or less body weight for when he is on the treadmill. The rate/speed he walks and the amount of work the robotic legs do are also adjustable. I asked the therapist to put a mirror in front of him, so he can watch his legs move. He loves it! He is doing really well with it. Our goal is that he will have more endurance and strength, and stand better. Balance and coordination will come later...we hope all is well with everyone!!! Looking forward to the MDA walk on Sunday with Shari and Team Skywalker!!!

Loko #2

We didn't have Lokomat on Wednesday, the therapist was sick. So today is day 2, and no, I won't be blogging about each session, but I gotta tell ya...little man rocks!~

We are supposed to work up to 45 minutes--he did 20 the first day, which was great! Today, he did 45!!!!! 45 minutes!~ WOOO HOOOO!

It will get more difficult as the weeks go on...he is only bearing half of his weight, and the robotic legs are doing all of the movement, but that isn't bad for a kid who fatigues easily due to lack of movement!!!!!

I am encouraged that he will be moving the 'legs' on his own in no time!!! He WAS listening to her and lifting his knees, so that is good.

Forgot the camera, but will take pics hopefully next week. Mott vs. Sterling in soccer, so we are going to root on our girls on Monday!!! Go Mott! Go Sterling! Go Erin! Go Morgan! Go Kylie! :)

Here are some pics from Easter!

Lokomat

We started the Lokomat on Monday at Children's Hospital in Novi...we will go Mon, Wed, Fri for the next 8 weeks. I am bringing my camera on Friday to take and post some pics. Drew, of course, did wonderfully. Terri, his therapist, said 'we can try him for a few minutes' ( Monday was the first visit...a lot of measuring, talking, and testing) to have him get a feel for it. He wound up doing 20 minutes! They work up to the 45 minute mark. We had to restart several times...he got so excited it shut the machine down!!! It is really cool--he is suspended by an unweighting mechanism, with a belt/harness, and his legs are connected to a pair of 'robotic' legs that move in the proper heel-toe strike pattern on the treadmill. Monday, he was about supporting about 50% of his own body weight. That will increase, as will the speed of the treadmill. Hopefully, the end result will be that he will have learned to pattern his leg movements and coordinate balance with weight bearing to walk or stand better.

I will post pics once I get them. Hope all is well with everyone!!!! Oh, and I wanna shout out to Jen Johnson and Abby, who just completed Abby's stem cell therapy in China and will be home on Tuesday!!!! Jen left her boys at home to take Abby to China...it will be worth it!!! :)

You've got a friend

There is nothing more honest than the emotions of kids. A few weeks ago, Monika and Danny came to hang out with Drew and I. We played, talked, had Pei Wei (first time ever...yum!) and Danny helped Drew walk in his walker. I will never forget the sweetness of that moment when he grabbed the walker and started pulling it...poor Monika was terrified for a second--'is that okay?!' and I replied 'it looks fine to me!' Kids connect in a way that no adult can with other kids. We should all be so accepting.

We are looking forward to seeing them tomorrow. Danny is great kid, and Drew and I love him.

We are on Easter Break tomorrow and all next week. We wish everyone a Happy Easter!

Oh, for the music lovers out there...Dottie, the best school bus driver ever in the whole wide world told me today that she heard Drew get all excited and then realized that the song on the radio was 'Piano Man' by Billy Joel. I told her that we usually belt it out, and she was free to do the same!!! My boy has good taste.

We wish you all all love-filled, blessed Easter!