Update - 3/28/09
More good news about walking!!!! Matthew has been using his gait trainer and it has made a dramatic different in his ability to walk. The ankle straps help keep his feet evenly spaced apart, helping to retrain his brain to walk properly. This assists Matthew in NOT crossing his left foot over his right. And the phenomenal result is that this past Wednesday he walked over 620 feet with no one touching him or assisting in any way, other than to walk along side him. This is absolutely beautiful!!!!! Earlier this month I saw Matthew walk 30 or more feet and it was a challenge, struggle and took a great deal of effort to put each foot straight ahead for the step. Walking over 620 feet is incredible!!
There’s a wonderful story to tell you about Matthew’s progress with using the gait trainer. A couple weeks ago, Matthew saw a red sports car parked down the street from the Kurz’ house. He was determined to go down and touch that car. So, off he walked with a couple family members in attendance. The red sports car belonged to a visitor in a neighbor’s house. This visitor was asked if Matthew could touch the car when he got there. The visitor was so kind and offered instead for Matthew and his mom to go for a ride in the car. If you know anything about Matthew’s interest in cars, you’ll be able to guess that this was quite a thrill for him!!!!
One more milestone in Matthew’s walking is with the parallel bars in the family’s garage. Matthew can now walk down and turn around completely all by himself and walk back where he came from. His trainer or his family member only walks in front of Matthew as a precaution, but Matthew does all the work.
Matthew’s doctor is very pleased with the healing going on in Matthew’s brain. His right frontal lobe has healed a great deal and still continues to heal. This is evidenced by even more initiating of ideas, wants and dislikes by Matthew. It used to be that Matthew was say “whatever” if there was something he didn’t like. But now he tells his family, “I don’t like that, don’t ever give that to me again.”
Matthew’s confidence in his own abilities and strength continue to increase. He’s not afraid to try certain things, where before he had to be encouraged and urged before anyone could get him to do things. He also corrects his own balance without being instructed to do so.
In speech therapy, Matthew is able to focus on four commands to follow through when given verbal instructions. This is wonderful!!! Also, Matthew is reading out loud and silently very well. He doesn’t need as much prompting to figure out the words and will stop and correct himself when he knows he got it wrong. He is also doing very well with math problems.
Matthew is still doing very well with drawing. He continues to add to his drawing book and shows improvement with his pictures in his attention to detail, space and design.
And last but not least, the water therapy continues to be a great blessing and has such great benefits for Matthew’s right side. At his most recent session, he was able to stand in the middle of the pool for 8 seconds without holding onto anything or anyone.
A blessed Lententide to all of you and as we approach April, I pray you have a blessed Holy Week and joyful Easter.
Rachel Asburry
Matthew's Godmother
There’s a wonderful story to tell you about Matthew’s progress with using the gait trainer. A couple weeks ago, Matthew saw a red sports car parked down the street from the Kurz’ house. He was determined to go down and touch that car. So, off he walked with a couple family members in attendance. The red sports car belonged to a visitor in a neighbor’s house. This visitor was asked if Matthew could touch the car when he got there. The visitor was so kind and offered instead for Matthew and his mom to go for a ride in the car. If you know anything about Matthew’s interest in cars, you’ll be able to guess that this was quite a thrill for him!!!!
One more milestone in Matthew’s walking is with the parallel bars in the family’s garage. Matthew can now walk down and turn around completely all by himself and walk back where he came from. His trainer or his family member only walks in front of Matthew as a precaution, but Matthew does all the work.
Matthew’s doctor is very pleased with the healing going on in Matthew’s brain. His right frontal lobe has healed a great deal and still continues to heal. This is evidenced by even more initiating of ideas, wants and dislikes by Matthew. It used to be that Matthew was say “whatever” if there was something he didn’t like. But now he tells his family, “I don’t like that, don’t ever give that to me again.”
Matthew’s confidence in his own abilities and strength continue to increase. He’s not afraid to try certain things, where before he had to be encouraged and urged before anyone could get him to do things. He also corrects his own balance without being instructed to do so.
In speech therapy, Matthew is able to focus on four commands to follow through when given verbal instructions. This is wonderful!!! Also, Matthew is reading out loud and silently very well. He doesn’t need as much prompting to figure out the words and will stop and correct himself when he knows he got it wrong. He is also doing very well with math problems.
Matthew is still doing very well with drawing. He continues to add to his drawing book and shows improvement with his pictures in his attention to detail, space and design.
And last but not least, the water therapy continues to be a great blessing and has such great benefits for Matthew’s right side. At his most recent session, he was able to stand in the middle of the pool for 8 seconds without holding onto anything or anyone.
A blessed Lententide to all of you and as we approach April, I pray you have a blessed Holy Week and joyful Easter.
Rachel Asburry
Matthew's Godmother
posted by Randy Asburry @ 6:44 PM
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