About 2 weeks ago, my 3 1/2 year old nephew Danny apparently first began to show indications of Acute Transverse Myelitis. That Saturday night, he sat on the sidewalk after walking a long time (didn't seem odd at the time.)
Sunday and Monday he complained of not feeling well, and his legs hurting. He had a low-grade fever, just over 100.
Tuesday he woke up and told his mom that he could not stand up. He was brought to the emergency room and later admitted into Loyola.
Kossacks wished him good thoughts, while we waited to see what was going on on Tuesday night, learned about the treatment and lack of progress, (so far), a week ago Saturday, and that he moved his legs and was released, on Tuesday.
One thing I asked Wednesday was whether he was crawling. The reply was kind of a terse, "no." I said, "OK, I thought he might, but it will come..."
On Friday afternoon I visited. My sister is very clever at introducing sitting play that makes him move his feet or legs. (Move the bridge so your car or stuffed puppy can get under your knees...)
At one point, he was on one side of the room (by the pottie) and mom was just coming back in the room, and he rolled over onto his knees. We asked if he could crawl, and he said, "No." We said, "Ok..." and kept messing around with something he was interested in... and he did crawl a couple of feet.
We applauded, and told him he was doing great. He didn't try again that night.
Yesterday, Grandpa, Grandma and I took Danny's older brother Eddie to a zoo event - we left during Danny's nap, and he didn't get home until after Danny should have been asleep. (I was dropped off at the train station, but received a call from Grandpa later.)
When Eddie got home, his dad and Danny were in Danny's room. Danny was crawling all over the room, chasing Dad to "punch him in the stomach" (not sure what that was about, beyond typical rough-housing), laughing, and having a great time.
I reported this in a comment in an open diary last night, but wanted to share with others.
Danny goes tomorrow, Wednesday and Friday - and for the next three weeks - for a couple of hours of therapy. Oddly, the therapy was to include 'speech therapy.' I'm not sure if the doctors decided that Danny can only say, "NO!" or what... but speech therapy is just about the Last Thing that Danny needs. Cooperation Therapy would be a good idea, if they have a class...
So, here are a couple of videos from his last day in the hospital - this one wasn't in last week's diary - Mommy popping wheelies with Danny in the chair (Eddie describes the action - and sorry, it's zoomed, and kind of a horrible quality video - it's nearly 3 mins long):
And my favorite one - 30 seconds of Danny kicking, and then showing Danny Frustration® at not being able to do it more:
Thank you for your continued good wishes.