Madi Moves

Today was a glorious day! Madison & Jack went to celebrate with their SDR community at the 2nd Annual Picnic! Madi always LOVES being around her friends that use walkers or canes or wheelchairs to get around like her, and to be around others who had the same surgery as her is always special. We chatted with families who are a few years post op, families who are about to leave for St Louis and families who are researching and deciding if the surgery is right for their child. No matter the point in journey of the families there, everyone was there to celebrate their amazing kids! They did yoga, got their faces painted, ate cotton candy, participated in a celebration race, played in the playground, watched balloon animals being made and took a group picture together. It was a great afternoon! 

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As the end of summer nears, Madi took a break from her crazy schedule and headed downtown for some shopping with Aunt Emily. 

Madi was on the hunt for her JK backpack! Most kids pick a bag with their favourite character on it and dont worry so much about size, straps etc. but Madi wants to be able to wear her backpack just like her friends no matter if she is in her walker or canes or holding someone’s hand – so Aunt Emily scoped out some good stores and Madi found a bag! It’s super cute, stylish & is functional. Thanks Aunt Emily!

Madi was excited to show Jack her “robot walking” this morning. The two watched Thomas as Madi marched away.

27 minutes, 1080 steps, 520 stairs!

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After a great session, Madi headed to VV to work with Stephanie! They did lots and lots of walking! Madi walked all the way from Stephanie’s office to court one in the field house, needing help only two times! The most exciting part of Physio today was watching another first. Madi was able to squat down, pick up a ball, stand back up and then throw it! She was super proud of herself! Thanks Cathy and Mya for all the cheering and support! 

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Madi & Jack had a great afternoon with Nana! Lunch, baking cookies, books, colouring & a special shirt for JK! Thanks Nana!

Madi has been learning about different vegetables all week at camp. Today she loved doing the calendar and learning about peas. She did lots of walking and transitioned for the first time from independent walking to her canes. 

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Madi spent the rest of her day with her Aunts – Janine and Suzanne! They had lunch and played with Buddy and then headed to Jo-Anne’s where Madi was so proud to show her Aunts all her hard work.

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Madi was sad to see Uncle Barker leave this morning but loved her visit with him! She proudly walked him to the door with her new purple canes to say goodbye. Thanks for the visit and the Muskoka Bear Wear Uncle Barker!

Madi LOVED her first session at Neurochangers today on the gait trainer! They taught her how to stand on the foot plates with straight posture, worked on walking and climbing stairs. She worked in passive mode at the start, which does the steps for her. She then transitioned to passive/active mode which required her to initiate the power and movement and then the machine followed through. She was on the machine for just over 35 minutes and did 1,004 steps and 460 stairs! 

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​She then headed to see Shannon for a massage after all her hard work. Her glutes and hamstring were incredibly tight on her left side from wearing her cast for the last week, dealing with the weight and off balance walking pattern. 

Madi was most excited for the next part of her day…getting her cast off!!! She was brave and actually didn’t mind the cast saw. She said it tickled and felt funny. Eric was super pleased with the results of the serial casting. One week of casting and her results were awesome! She gained 10 degrees on her left foot. Her right and left foot now measure roughly the same. 

Madi was  excited to show Jack that her cast was gone. She picked him up from daycare and headed to Grandview. Madi & Jack had a joint Physio session. Jack had his exit assessment (now that he’s 18 months) from the treatment he received as an infant for his torticollis and Madi had an exit assessment from her post op therapy blocks and will be on break from Grandview until October. Kate was also super pleased with Madisons measurements. Jack still has some rotation issues in his neck that we will try some stretching for and work out the tightness through active stretching and massage. If he is still having some trouble in a few months he will be referred to a clinic at Sick Kids. 

Madi and Claire worked hard this morning in Physio. Something new that they attempted was walking through an obstacle course. Madi had to navigate and decide when to step over things or go around.

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After Physio, Madi headed to camp. She did Lots and Lots of walking and was excited to tell Mommy all about cabbages which they learnt about. 

Madi spent her afternoon at riding. It was her last class of the summer. She attempted trotting today which was fun but difficult. She is learning to hold her core, neck and head tight and still to have control. 

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We love a good deal! We found these at Dollarama in their new fitness section! They have mats, Physio balls…all kinds of stuff for under $3!

Madison can do planks and mountain climbers with them for core strength.

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Madi was also thrilled that her new canes arrived today! She will have a pair that stay in her classroom and a pair that travel with her.

Jack LOVES his sister so much he tries to do everything like her…Mr Potato Head glasses and a good book.

Madi & Jack ventured out to Oakville today to wish cousin Abi good luck and farewell as she heads off to her first year of University. It was really nice visiting with family and having a nice meal. Good luck Abi!

Tonight Madi practiced her walking with no one spotting her. In the past she has been dependant on people staying behind her to catch her when she falls. She was very scared of falling. She now has a new confidence and desire to do things herself. We laid cushions on the floor and followed her with a cushion but did not catch her – she is learning to trust in herself when she gets off balance and to lean forwards, put her hands out, bend her knees and try to have a controlled fall.

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Madi and Jack had a great morning playing with Pam and Medford while Mommy and Daddy went with family to remember a great man. The kids played with magnets and connecting toys, listened and danced to music – they had a great morning.

The rest of the day was spent doing various projects around the house to get ready for back to school. Madi and Jack were very helpful by passing Daddy different tools or helping clean up and organize. A big change is the front entrance that will hopefully be finished tomorrow. Madi and Jack will have their own area to sit down to put on shoes and jackets, organize their stuff and make getting out the door in the morning when school starts a smooth process. 

Madi had an early Physio session this morning with Stephanie before camp and did great! She worked on weight transferring for walking, stepping over objects and used her new Spio compression vest that just arrived. Her walking is really progressing!

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One of the best email’s arrived in our inbox this morning…Madi’s CE Instructor Monika emailed to say that Madison walked 42 steps at camp this morning!!!!! 

Madi then spent the rest of her day with Janine, Suzanne & Stephanie! They had some lunch and a Popsicle and hung out by the pool. They then visited Great Grandma Gregoire and Pebbles the parrot. She had a great day!

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Madi had a great morning at CE camp. She did LOTS of walking with Monika! 21 steps! She also did some work standing and working with her hands at the same time – her activity of choice was shooting Monika with a water gun while trying to stand on her own. 

After some lunch Madi headed to work with Jo-Anne. They did some work on trying to increase the length of her forward step by walking in boxes. They also worked on safe ways to fall now that Madi is trying to walk more on her own. Madi also practiced walking with a back pack on her back to help activate and bring awareness to her upper back muscles and posture. 

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When Madi was two years old we had heard of a type of treadmill system that helps with gait training. At the time Madi was too small to access it. Now that she is bigger we visited today to get fitted to see if she would be ready and she just fit! Madi will have her assessment next week and then will start 2 times a week for 30 minutes. She LOVED it and can’t wait to go back! 

Here is some more info from Aim2Walk’s site:

G-EO SYSTEM

NeuroChangers Durham added a new piece of innovative technology to their clinic. Reha’s G-EO system is an advanced robotic-assisted device in gait rehabilitation. The device maximizes functional clinical outcomes for adult and pediatric patients with various neurological impairments. The addition of this advanced robotic technology puts NeuroChangers among the leaders in rehabilitation of lower extremity neurological movement disorders. The centre is humbled to be the first clinic in Ontario to offer this type of therapy and the only private clinic in Ontario to offer pediatric gait training.

The G-EO System is the only device that offers the unique feature of realistically simulating climbing stairs. Developed with the purpose to help stroke survivors regain their ability to walk and their independence in daily living, the G-EO System has shown excellent results in multiple applications, such as infantile cerebral palsy (ICP), spinal cord injuries (SCI), traumatic brain injuries (TBI), Parkinson’s, amputees, orthopedic and traumatic cases.

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