Learning To Walk

Evening all,

I thought I'd document Rory’s progress so far. As you know it has been slow going with adapting to the prosthetic. Our priority has instead been getting Rory used to his leg and understanding what it will enable him to do. 

We are definitely making headway in that department- he tries to help put it on and is an expert at pulling it off.

Although he hasn’t taken any independent steps yet we’ve been working really hard on the exercises that Beth, our physio, has instructed us with. One key exercise is standing him against the sofa or coffee table and putting a favourite toy or exciting item (ie a phone or remote control!) at the other end and letting him find his own way across.

This helps him learn how to shift his weight across each leg and understand what movements are required to get him to where he needs to be, just like any toddler learning to walk. 

He’s taken to that exercise really well! I caught a video last week (see below), and we practise this every day. 

He’s still a little wobbly, and not ready to take his hands off the sofa/table, but it’s progress to be proud of. 

 

We also hold his hands and ‘walk’ him about, again just like you would a typical toddler. The downside is that a normal baby would be learning these skills constantly throughout the day; whereas Rory only really gets to practise whenever we consciously put his leg on. And for that he needs to be in the right mood! So we accept that this part of his development might take a little longer, but we have accepted that and know he will take those steps soon… and when he does, I’ll probably long for my little baby back who just cuddled and slept and stayed in one place all day long! 

In truth, we are enjoying every moment of watching him learn and grow.