Tonight Madi had her first solo swimming lesson. We swim together all the time and she has participated in a parent and tot swim class with James, but tonight was her first lesson with her “coach” Ryan at Variety Village.
Ryan is a speed swimming coach of the Flames swim team and he has lots of experience teaching kids with CP how to swim.kids with CP like Madison can learn how to swim but the process and techniques are different then how the average kid learns how to swim.it was important for us to have her working with someone who not only understands speed swimming but also understands how cp can effect how your body moves in the water. Madison is still young, but our goal right now is to allow her time to get comfortable with Ryan so that as she gets a bit older she can start learning from someone other then her mom.
This picture was taken after her lesson when Ryan left to work with his next person. As you can see from the look on Madison’s face it did not go so well. I didn’t start in the water with them. The first half of the lesson Madison and Ryan just swam together. Madison cried the whole time and got so worked up she puked in the pool. They scooped it out in time so that they didn’t have to shut the pool down. Thank god she wasn’t responsible for a pool closure on her first lesson. After she puked we decided I should get in the water with them. She calmed down a bit but still cried the entire 30 minute lesson. Ryan was such a trooper and assured me it would get better and we are going to try again next week. I was shocked at how upset she was. She sees so many people with all her therapies and doctors Appointments that she warms up to people and is comfortable pretty quickly. I’m hoping each week will get better as the pool will be an important place for her in her life to be able to stretch out, relax, activate her muscles and to compete in a sport that she already loves to do. Stay tuned for how next weeks lesson goes.
Madi Moves 