Reuben is a walker!

At what point can you classify a child as being a true walker? Reuben took his first furtive steps at 17 months in our playroom and has been adding to those little walks every since. Last week, he took 36 steps and then yesterday, with the soft surface beneath him at the Playa Vista park, a Shane's Inspiration* project just moments from home, he took 45, then 77 then 95 steps, all the time pointing to where he wanted to go, making turns, standing momentarily and setting off again, all the little transitions he's been taught. And boy does he know he's doing great. I've instructed his PT to hold at least one of his sessions at the park, because he's long outgrown walking back and forth in the playroom. So in answer to the question: perhaps you're a true walker when walking is your predominant mode of transport, and at 2 years and 3 months, you're a walker Reuben!

*Shane's Inspiration is a universally-accessible playground for children of all abilities in the new Sports Park in Playa Vista (LA). Shane’s Inspiration is a nationally-recognized non-profit organization dedicated to helping disabled children integrate with typically developing children. This playground is one of 11 other uniquely designed Shane’s Inspiration playgrounds throughout Southern California. These programs have been such a success that 71 similar projects are in development throughout the US and as far away as Bangalore, India.

20 August: From open heart to 36 steps

There are dates etched in my mind, like the 20th of August. Looking at Reuben today, I look back from whence he came, marvel at how far he's come. PT Carrie is just leaving when Reuben walks his longest stretch: 21 steps and yet no sooner is she down the garden path to her car than he decides to launch into a huge walk of 36 steps, full of twists and turns, righting his balance, standing momentarily and then walking off again. We know how difficult this is to achieve with absolutely no naturally God-injected balance in his body. It's utterly delightful, a huge smile growing on his face, chuffed with his achievement, showing off.

And so I look back only briefly today, 2 years ago, when Reuben came through the worst, his open heart surgery and marvel at how beautifully he was given a second chance to grow from surviving, to striving, to absolutely thriving.

I know Kristi and Hannah have their dates too and doubtless many of our friends out there with milestones reached. Please share your momentous dates for you in the comments.

Reuben walking independently

Taken a good while to post this story since he started walking in October, but here are his independent steps and football skills, the technique practised so many times, the patience of Jason and PT Carrie and the will of Reuben. I've counted a maximum of 11 steps in therapy at home. His walking from an unassisted stand is a marvellous feat, overcoming balance issues due to problems with his vestibular, weak upper body muscle tone, torticollis, 6 months down time in intensive care, visual and hearing impairment and, well, you know the rest! Extraordinary! Beautiful! Long gone are the days when Reuben used to dread physical therapy, now he greets PT Carrie with signing Frog-Dog-Monkey-Ball, each of the toys used in rotation to motivate him to cross the great divide. And as you can see, he's loving every minute of it.