Bens Wish To Walk: Ben 10 !!

Well 10 years ago today at 2:46am Ben made his very early arrival into the world. It was a rough couple of weeks before he was finally allowed home. Each day he grew stronger, we always knew he had developmental delay due to his early arrival but did not realise he had Cerebral Palsy until we were told when he was 2 ½ years old. I still feel immense guilt that we didn’t realise that he had CP early as he missed out on so much early intervention that maybe things would have been different – But no sense in looking back nothing much is ever gain in that... Since then he has had many many challenges in his life, never more so then this year. Ben always puts his all into things but this last 6 months have really pushed him to his limits on severally occasions.

Since our return from Ben was on a ‘High’ for about a month then the realization of daily physio session & missing bits of lessons and the changes with his body all got understandably to much for him. But after that minor blip he made huge progress and we are now in ‘unchartered water’, Ben has never walk with crutches before and since he was given them 3 weeks ago he had never looked back. Ben is a little apprehensive to let go of his walker but I’m sure he will once his confidence grows. He does still uses his walker for playtimes and playing out but I feel that it is not too far away from the day when the walker will go into the garage alongside the wheelchair – which is just mind-blowing to think it, is so near. Ben had his first ever sleepover on Saturday – he invited 4 friends over, it was great to see him and his friends playing & talking till the early hours, no to be fair they were fine very well behaved.

These boys have know Ben since he was 2 years old and although they may not all be hanging round together 24/7 they are a great bunch of boys, I’m so pleased Ben has them to call on when he needs them.

Ben came home with his end of year school report we were overjoyed with what it said, Ben has made ‘HUGE’ progress this year even with all that has gone through this year. We were told that SDR would allow him to think more clearly as he does not have to constantly fight against the battle of everyday life with the spasticity going on in his body, this is the proof!!!

Being 10 is a huge milestone for Ben as things start to change not only with his body but school; Year 6 is a hard year for anyone let alone a child like Ben. Be I know that he will throw his all into it and doing amazing well.

Who knows what the next 6 months have in store for Ben, 2 holidays, catch up with our Calendar friends, no walker!!!! & maybe a new member to the household – one of the furry kind!!! The future is in his hands & I know he will be fine.