Half a Mile

Here's an update on Mom's walking progress - and a photo for proof!

Two weeks ago Mom and Dad started going to their church almost every day for walking practice. The church has long hallways with thin industrial carpet that's not too difficult for Mom to walk on (with the help of Dad and her walker). The first day of walking Mom did 1/8 of a mile and was pretty tired. The next day she did 1/4 of a mile and was exhausted. That 1/4 mile walk took almost an hour. But by the end of the week, Mom could walk a half mile. This past week Mom did a half mile every day and was able to get her time down to 31 minutes. Dad's latest email to me on the subject shows off his "coach" mentality: "Her form is also improving a lot." :)


Initially Mom and Dad assumed that Mom would need a 3-inch heel on her left foot with a flat shoe on her right foot since it's still hard for Mom to straighten her left leg. Now Dad says that things are already looking hopeful, and Mom may be able to wear matching flat shoes in another week.

Mom has a wonderful doctor who has been very encouraging. He loves the contraptions Dad and the employees at Autometrix have made for Mom, and he is very happy with Mom's progress. At an appointment last week he told Mom to keep up the good work, saying, "You're beating the odds!" He wants Mom to continue walking lots despite the pain she feels in her joints from the heterotopic ossification (If you're having a hard time keeping your medical terms straight, you can refresh your memory... I first wrote about heterotopic ossification here). Mom's doctor actually hoping that the motion from stretching and walking will challenge the ossification and perhaps stop the process.

I'll end this post with the last paragraph from Dad's recent email to me:

In what may be the most exciting news of all, Mom slept 4 hours straight last night, between 1:00 and 5:00. Previously, she had been up every 45 minutes to 1 hour for most of the night. Thank you, Lord, I need the sleep.

Steps Toward Walking

I know I'm way past due for an update here! Please forgive the lack of posts. To be honest, since Mom is doing so much better now and I know that she regularly reads my blogs, I feel a bit strange writing about her. Like I imagine mothers of toddlers feel as they blog about a child learning to walk or being toilet trained, all the while aware that someday that child will read it himself. Ha-ha.

Anyway, Mom is doing quite well. Here's a recent email from Dad:

Today was a red letter day! This morning at PT [Physical Therapy], Mom started with intense stretching, but it was less painful than lately. Then I thought that Carme [Mom's physical therapist] was going to either have Mom walk with the LightGait or with a walker, but she took one arm, and I took the other, and we strolled (Mom says we lurched, and that's closer to the truth) around the room. Then Carme got a cane (the kind with four feet) and she and Mom walked around the room again. Holding Mom's arm, she had Mom actually step up onto the treadmill, about a 4-6 inch step, and stand there while she put on the harness. Getting into the LightGait used to be a 10 minute process, involving three adults. This time it was Carme and Mom in about two or three minutes. Then Mom walked 0.25 miles in 16 minutes. She was exhausted, but happy, and it was beyond amazing, given what the doctors initially told us! Mom's left leg still has a long way to go to get straight, but we're seeing progress.

After we got home, we still did our usual therapy schedule, for the rest of the day. Then tonight, Mom helped cook dinner, folded laundry, rubbed my back (a red letter day for sure) and we're about to get ready for bed.

Isn't Mom's continuing progress amazing? Please keep praying - it is a great source of encouragement to Mom and to all of us!

Here's a picture of Mom in the LiteGait: