03/03/2023
I want to share a story. I used to work with a particularly vivacious, spunky 9 year old boy with spastic quadriplegic cerebral palsy. Although we joked plenty throughout our PT session, when it came to the hard things, before he even tried, he would give me his usual, sassy look and tell me “Ms. Sunny, I can’t do that”.
Then we would practice together. First transferring from his wheelchair with a lot of my help. Then, as the sessions went on, transferring from his wheelchair with a little help. Then, one day, transferring from the wheelchair all by himself. And then I said, “remember when you thought you couldn’t do it!” and I got a little smile back.
There were plenty of days when he came in and told me, “I just don’t want to be here, I don’t know why my mom keeps bringing me”. And every single time he would come back in and practice again. One day, after we had been practicing getting up to standing from seated, he said “I want to learn to do this by myself.”
So we practiced. We talked through the steps. And for those who it doesn’t come easy to, there are many. Where to place feet, when to learn forward, when to push as hard as you can through your legs, and when to stand up tall with your chest out. And we practiced, probably 150 times over the sessions, and each time was so so close to doing it by himself. And one day, he gathered all of his strength and pushed to stand completely by himself. For the first time EVER in his life. After that day, I heard these words.
“I want to be strong. Not just today, but everyday.”
And boy, hearing that sent shivers down my spine. Going from “I can’t, to I want to learn.” The kids and families I work with inspire me in so many ways, and show me the depths of strength that was never thought possible. This month is so special to be because through my career, I’ve been given the gift of experiencing the strength that each child with CP holds, pushing themselves to be better every single day, and not letting anything hold them back! They are truly warriors.
