Crystal Ball

This week we had a follow up appointment with Dr. Im, Callie’s physiatrist or doctor of physical medicine.  At our last appointment we discussed ordering ankle & foot orthosis/braces (AFOs) to help her learn to walk correctly.  He said we would probably order them once she is pulling to a stand.  My main question for this appointment was what type we should order since she is now at this point.  I was surprised when he said he would like to hold off for now.  Instead, he would like to wait to get them once she is walking independently.  I could not help but to get excited about his matter-of-fact way of talking about her walking… it just makes me a little giddy to hear a doctor say ‘when’ she walks, and not ‘if’ she walks like they said at the beginning of this journey.  So I said great, we will wait!  And then I could not resist asking him when he thinks this will happen… when will she walk??  He said if he had to guess he would say 3 to 4 months from now.  I know it is just a guess, but it makes me so, so happy to think about her walking in the upcoming months!  We went on to discuss how she may or may not walk typically… there is a wide range of gaits, but he feels she will be on the typical end of the spectrum.  There could be some awkwardness; only time will tell.  Then I got greedy and asked him about running… does he think she will ever be able to run?  He said, yes, she should be able to run, but she may be awkward and/or uncoordinated.  He said it could be running for play or maybe something like kickball, but most likely not on an athletic team.  I am okay with this.  And of course these are all just guesses… he unfortunately does not have a crystal ball.  But just the thought of her walking around the house and possibly seeing her chase Owen around the backyard is enough to make me giddy with excitement!