Home field advantage

Aug. 15, 2010

Nathan always seems to be teaching. He doesn’t talk but he still gets his point across. He’s learned how to manipulate others, and with those eyes and that smile, he gets more than most anyone with the cutest way of saying “Pleeease!”

The past two weeks he’s worked with OSU PT students for their pediatric labs. They’ve had weeks of bookwork, but now they have to touch real kids, analyze them and determine a good strategy to treat them. It’s interesting to see how nervous the students are to touch, stretch and challenge the different kids.

We participated two different days, two weeks ago and worked with different small-groups (7-8 students) each day. These sessions were in the PT building, one that Nathan doesn’t visit often. I asked to be allowed in the room, knowing how Nathan treats his skills on a need-to-know basis, and if someone who knows what he can do isn’t in the room, he thinks the others don’t need-to-know.

The students asked good questions of me, and they learned the value of working with a parent can help them get the best results of their analysis. They could work for 60-90 seconds to try to get him to accomplish a task, and if he wouldn’t respond, I’d show them how I’d do it and watch him respond in less than five seconds.

This year, we took his walker and he would strut his stuff as that’s the skill he seems to be most proud to show others currently. Up and down the hallway he'd go, especially if he could get away with less than perfect form, still he was impressing the college kids. (Did I mention OSU’s pediatric PT students are about 85% female?)

This past week, he only was needed for one session. The kicker was, this time it was in one of his old classrooms. When we walked in I think Nathan was expecting to see some of his classmate friends, but he was still willing to work with the students, as he’s used to having college help in his classes (up to this year, the student help has been eliminated last we’ve heard.) Still you could see in Nathan’s eye, they were in his territory now, and he was in a whole new comfort zone.

Another group was working with a girl that they wanted to see how she played outside. Nathan saw the girl get up and head for and out the door to the playground. Immediately, the playful Nathan turned into the “excuse me, I need to go outside too” Nathan. I don’t think I’ve seen him more determined to roll to the door and completely disregard what those around wanted him to do. The students not knowing how to react hesitated and it was all the time Nathan needed to take control of the group. It was time to get him in the walker and go outside.

Once outside, he saw the swings and tried to fight his way there, but there were still some tasks the students needed to accomplish. You could see them scramble to maintain control, thinking of ways to accomplish their needs in a way Nathan would cooperate. Nathan never got upset, and was willing to work with the students, but I think there was a lesson in compromise for both parties involved.

Nathan got his time on the swing, and anywhere else the other kids went that he wanted to be. The students did a good job in accommodating him, and I was glad I wasn’t the one trying to squeeze through the playhouse doors or into the big car one more time.

I had to laugh when we went to out regular PT this past Tuesday. Abbi also works with the OSU students, but at a different time of the week. She asked how the labs were going and several of the groups talked about one little boy, who’s dad brings him. He's always smiling and laughing, he loved attention and would just curl up in your arms if you let him. Abbi replied, “So, you’ve met Nathan.” Once again Nathan seems to be the star of the family and we just tag along on his coattails.

The future class of PTs seem very promising. Those students still have over a year’s worth of classes to go, but it’s still exciting to be helping those who could be helping us later. Our favorite PT student will soon be graduating (August 29th can’t get here fast enough for her.) We wish Jessi the best, even though she’ll be leaving for South Carolina two days later. We’ll miss her, but know she’ll help many others. Who knows, the next time she comes back to visit, Nathan maybe officially on-staff at OSU.

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