Annie PT Update: Sort of Like Riding a Bicycle

We returned to the physical therapy gym today after an 8 week absence. I had rehearsed with Annie what to tell Miss Ashley, but I hardly needed to because it was a sweet reunion. We spent a goodly bit of time getting acquainted with the new prosthesis, Mr. Tony version 2.0. It has the same purple/butterfly decoration, but is substantially heavier. He designed this one with an onion skin in mind. She has three plastic leg-shaped inserts into the leg which will be peeled away as she outgrows them. Also, she has a lockable joint under the base of her prosthesis and above the foot. It's supposed to be a knee, but it's really closer to the ankle because of her short stature. We called it a knankle and Annie wasn't really diggin' it.

She has to grow in and through this prosthesis, so the length of her legs don't match, which of course affects her gait. Nonetheless, she took to the new leg with great vigor and a good spirit. She got to swing with Miss Ashley, walk on the treadmill [4 minutes] which she would much rather not do, and do her favorite thing by far: ride the trapeze, drop into the ball crawl, and climb out for another round. 'Time to go' was met with tears. We're back and I'm confident she'll continue to make great progress.