Meet Lexi!
Lexi started her journey with Tender Touch one week after leaving Children’s Hospital. After 3 surgeries she was unable to walk and too afraid to try. Then we met Suzanne. The first two sessions were spent getting to know each other and Suzanne gave a lot of encouragement and reassurance. After a few visits, Lexi was so excited to go each week to show how much progress she made because she knew Suzanne would be proud of her. I am grateful to Suzanne and Tender Touch for helping Lexi to be able to run and play like she did before all of this happened. Thank you for everything you did to help heal her. I will never forget watching her walk to the waiting room for the first time without the walker. That was the best feeling, and I knew she was going to be okay. –Raeann (foster mom)
Lexi’s Journey
Lexi began receiving physical therapy services in February 2017, after a blood infection that required part of her fibula to be removed. At her initial evaluation, Lexi wouldn’t allow anyone to look at her leg, much less touch it to remove bandages. This went on for 2 weeks. During this time, Lexi had to rely on her family to push her in a wheelchair, and this was tough for her because Lexi prided herself on her independence. Asking Lexi to put weight through her right leg caused her to panic at first, but every day she did a bit more – squashing play bugs on the floor, crab walking, and side stepping along a table.
One day, Lexi’s courage allowed her to put her strong fear and anxiety around walking aside, and she began walking for short distances with a walker. And just 4 days later at her next PT appointment, Lexi decided to forget the walker all together and ended her session by walking out into the waiting room all by herself! You could see the pride beaming on her face when she walked out to her foster mom, and since that moment she was unstoppable. Her determination to return to her independent ways allowed Lexi to progress quickly, and she is now running, jumping, and hopping on her right foot! With all this success, Lexi graduated from physical therapy at the end of May.