Amelia moves about!!!

Amelia got her first wheelchair when she was about 20 months old, right before she and Hannah started preschool at the Hearing School at Vanderbilt (Hannah was a peer model in the class). It was a pink Quickie Kidz that is designed specifically for toddlers to use. She was able to push herself in it the second day that we had it. Wanting to push herself was another story. That took a while (especially since Amelia is really stubborn).

Amelia got her second wheelchair when she was 4 (about 3 years after the first one). Insurance will allow a child to get a new wheelchair about every 3 years, so once you get it- you are stuck for a while. She chose the color this time-purple. She loves being in her chair and is really starting to gain lots of skills in it. She is working really hard on climbing in and out (once again she is able to do it, but we struggle with her wanting to do it). She and Hannah love chasing each other around the house, she pushes herself when we are out and about, she has even started to test her skills on ramps- which scares me a little bit. So far she has only flipped over in the chair one time- that was going up a ramp during PT and we did not have her tip guards out. That was a little scary for all of us.

Amelia also got a stander when she got her first wheelchair. It allows her to be upright and bear weight through her legs, which is extremely important for all body systems. She doesn't mind the stander, but she does get bored easily (especially when she is ready to be on the go). We are thinking about getting her a new stander that has wheels on it similar to a wheelchair, so she can get around in it.

When Amelia was almost 3, she was fitted for RGOs, which are walking braces. They completely support her lower body and trunk. She has worked very hard with these braces, but has not been very successful. She is almost at a point where she does not really enjoy them anymore. Each step requires a lot of energy from her and she is so much faster in her wheelchair anyway. Once she outgrows these, we will have to decide if we want to put more money into the RGOs or use those resources for other equipment and services.

Despite Amelia's paralysis, she is very active. She tries to do just about anything and is actually more of a daredevil than Hannah is. Amelia usually army crawls or rolls around the house. She can get herself into a sitting position, but she is till not able to sit unsupported for more than a few seconds- but she is working really hard on that one. It is so awesome to be able to see every small stride that she is able to make, and it makes us appreciate the little things so much more. We are so grateful to have been blessed with these two girls.