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We just finished our final DMI intensive of the year with Kinetic Therapy who flew here to Estonia from Alicante, Spain. And it made me reflect.
A few weeks ago, I took Eloise with me to an event. When we got there, I found we had to go up a flight of stairs. Months ago, we would have had to leave because I couldn’t carry her and she couldn’t climb more than a few steps. But this time, Eloise held my hands and moved her feet up 2/3 of that flight of stairs, giggling the whole way. I moved her feet the rest, and then I nearly cried I felt so proud
This last year, when we had almost 12 weeks where we didn’t have daily help for Eloise, we learned something important. Movement and exercises aren’t just “so Eloise can walk some day”, they are what enables Eloise to participate physically, mentally, and emotionally in this world. Without movement, she withdrawals.
After learning the hard way that Eloise turns into herself fast without enough exercise, we also saw that adding more movement helped her open up again. Which is why we’ve spent much of the last 9 months figuring out how to incorporate more movement into Eloise’s life.
And it’s working.
Recently, Lastefond (whose supporters generously pay for Eloise’s sessions with Kinetic Therapy) asked what has changed with Eloise due to her participation in these 3x/year intensives.
I thought back to January 2025 when getting Eloise onto her feet brought immediate protest and buckets of tears. Whereas today if you just take her hands, she nearly jumps at the chance to walk with support.
In February Eloise refused to do more than a few supported steps without breaking down. Today, she will often walk from our living room through the front door and most of the way to the car before she protests.
But my favorite change is the hugs. Especially recently, any time one of us gets near Eloise these days, she usually reaches out and wraps her arms around you for a hug. (Well, and also grabs your hair to eat it, but hey. 🤣)
I am forever grateful that Liza Barrios and her team at Kinetic therapy gave this tiny group of kids in Estonia the chance at a changed life. Eloise’s life is already better because of it, but so is ours.
All our love to you. 🥰
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