Additional Needs

Standing Tall

Posted by Brittney Baumgartner on 5th September 2018 Additional Needs, Advice & Support, Disabilities

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Ever since my son Oliver showed interest in learning how to walk and an understanding that it would take a lot more effort and tries to accomplish it, I wanted more for him.

I wanted the best of the best bracing, therapeutic equipment, and anything I could assemble and DIY at home for him to be able to work at this dream.

We have always had AFO bracing for him, which cover the ankles and feet.

They allow extra support where he is weak, ultimately preventing his ankles from giving out and keeping his feet upright and straight when standing.

Because he was born with club feet and hip dysplasia, without bracing his legs curve in at a slight angle.

He would almost be standing on the top of his feet, without the help of these orthotics.

Due to his paralysis, he also experiences gait problems.

Oliver has the most amazing upper body strength you have ever seen in a four year old, but he seems to almost, “fold in half”, at the torso area.

Due to this, I have always pushed our doctors and therapist to look into HKAFO bracing, or anything similar to them.

For this type of bracing, it covers the hips, knees, ankles and feet just like his AFO braces would do.

The awesome thing about these tho, is that they keep his torso upright when walking not allowing him to do this folding in half.

It allows him to stand tall!

With Oliver now hitting four years of age, we are hearing more from him about being able to walk and stand like his siblings.

After months and months of fighting and finally waiting for them to arrive, we have received the bracing equipment!

They are bulky, new, and scary to Oliver, but with time and practice he has warmed up to them.

Nothing could hold back his smile and giggles when he saw himself next to his younger brother Theodore, standing a couple inches over his head.

He finally felt what it was like to stand up, on his own even!

My sweet boy wanted to just keep the braces on and stand while doing even the simplest things like watching TV.

All those months of research and pushing paid off just to see him smile.

It was such a weird feeling and sight to see my son stand on his own, and I very much look forward to see him turn that in to walking on his own!