Will Jojo walk? This is a question we’ve been asking ourselves and each other for four years. And if she will, when? There has never been a good answer. Every doctor, therapist, and teacher has said “I don’t know”.
At Jojo’s last school IEP meeting, a goal was set for her to stand unsupported for 1 to 5 seconds by the end of the school year. I was so discouraged. If she is only standing for 5 seconds one year out, walking if possible must be years away. And that “if possible” is always there, lurking. Casting a shadow of uncertainty on the whole idea. Maybe she will walk. But maybe she won’t. And as time marches on, that uncertainty grows.
And Jojo continues to grow. Each day she is heavier. It is not possible to carry her much farther than driveway to front door or parking lot to entrance of wherever we are. We use her wheels all the time now. A few weeks ago we had an occupational therapist visit our home to discuss accessibility for Jojo. She made some recommendations. A contractor came. We began the process of getting a wheelchair accessible van. We began preparing ourselves emotionally and financially.
Then on Christmas night, in an instant everything changed. Jojo started walking with her walker and she didn’t stop for 45 minutes. This was the first time she took more than a couple steps with no hands on her for support. And the next day, she wanted to walk again and did laps around our house for about the same amount of time. The day after that we went to the park in our neighborhood and she walked with her walker around the basketball court like a pro.
A few days later Jojo had her weekly appointment with her Physical Therapist Janet that she sees outside of school. Janet was the first PT to start treating Jojo at 5 months old. She is amazing and we drive into the city on Monday afternoons, battling rush hour afterwards on the way home. I wanted to surprise her. When we arrived, Jojo walked right in with her walker. It was a truly profound moment.
Because I love a dramatic entrance, rather than put her on the bus I drove Jojo to school the first day back after the holiday break and she walked in with her walker. Her teacher, school PT, and the classroom paras all cheered. Jojo had her entire fan club rooting for her.
There are a lot of uncertainties about Jojo and her future. Where will she go to Kindergarten next year? Will her speech ever improve to age appropriate level? What is the level of intellectual disability? The list goes on, and now that list a bit shorter. Will she walk? Yes she will, yes she is!
Jojo The Strong 