Outpatient Therapy

We returned to the hospital today for one hour of physiotherapy, and this format will be repeated Monday to Friday until the end of the month. Daniel had been resting in the morning and I wasn't expecting him to have a great session, but he did!
He did about 20 minutes on the tricycle which he seemed to enjoy. All the hospital complex buildings are bridged by enclosed walkways at second floor level and it makes for quite a long and interesting cycle route.
Next Daniel went on the treadmill for the first time ever, and he ended up holding the handlebars to support himself and walking with a really good heel strike, in a better style than he has ever previously managed with his frame. He was pleased when I told him that he was walking like Shaggy in Scooby-Doo!
He finished being supported in a standing position and kicking a football in to a goal until he had scored ten times. He has never been able to kick a ball with his left foot before today.
The physio team are going to great lengths to make the treatment fun and stimulating for the mind as well as the body. The goals set for Daniel in the next few weeks are to treadmill for ten minutes holding on to the rails, pedal the tricycle up a slight gradient under his own power, walk ten steps using canes for support, and to stand still on his own without support!
For a treat tonight he watched Knight Rider and during one of the commercial breaks he conceded in a low voice, "The physio's not that bad really", but actually he and I are both delighted with what he achieved today in the early stages of recovery.