Friday was therapy day for Callum. For those reading this blog that don't know Callum's background, he has developmental delays due to lack of oxygen at birth (that's a whole different story that I need to blog some day). Anyways, in addition to the therapy he receives at school, we take him to town for physical & occupational therapies 2 times a month.
He usually starts on the treadmill.
He walks, jogs, runs, goes on an incline and ends by walking backwards and sideways. (nice bunny ears!)
He does sit ups (for trunk strength)--and he is being timed. He did 20 in 40 seconds (I know I can't do that!) Way to go Callum!!!
He climbs a 3-story rock wall each session. There is a doorbell to ring at the very top and he did that one time--about 2 years ago when he 1st began climbing it & was pulled up.
This is the highest he has climbed on his own (w/o being pulled up) and if he is pulled up, he panics, becomes terrified, and lets go. We have tried every kind of bribe to get him to climb higher--candy bars, drinks out of vending machine, milk shakes, pizzas, even Subway (his favorite place to eat)--but nothing works.
Well, on Friday Aunt Pamela was with him and she told him that she would climb the wall if he made it to the top and rang the doorbell. ....And he surprised everyone because he kept climbing...... and
Climbing, and giggling (while Aunt Pamela shrieked "No--no--don't go higher!!)....and CLIMBING!!! Until he reached the top--he couldn't quite reach the doorbell at first, but took on last step and--yep--rang that doorbell. Everyone at therapy cheered so loudly (I'm not sure if Aunt Pamela was cheering or not).
So Aunt Pamela had to harness up (all the while trying to talk her way out of climbing), and finally tried to climb.
She was laughing way too much to do much but take a step or two--but for Callum it was worth it to have his Aunt Pamela try something she said she was terrified of doing! She was/is such a good sport!!
So Aunt Pamela had to harness up (all the while trying to talk her way out of climbing), and finally tried to climb.She was laughing way too much to do much but take a step or two--but for Callum it was worth it to have his Aunt Pamela try something she said she was terrified of doing! She was/is such a good sport!!
4 comments:
Hey thanks for stopping by my blog. I just love new friends. That is great your son made it to the top. Sounds like he has a great Aunt that truely loves him and wants to see him achieve the goals that seem hard to acheieve.WAY TO GO !!!!!
Hey Michelle! Thanks for taking the challenge! You will do great! Fun rock climbing pics!
Tell Callum I said that's awesome that he climbed all the way to the top and rang the bell! I'm very proud of him! What a great aunt Pamela is to try something that scares her so that Callum would go all the way to the top!
That was a great post... It's amazing all the wonderful skills Callum is doing. The way they make the physical therapy fun and motivating is so neat. The rock wall story was fun-ny! I'm glad you found the trick to motivate him to the top - that was great! Did Aunt Pamala make it? She was such a great sport! I loved all of your pictures too... I am such a visual person - and absolutely love lots of visuals when reading a story.
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