Doing the hard work!

Hyrum and Alma after a PT session July 2024

Coming to the end of another round of physical therapy in the fall of 2024.

Hyrum's immune system and body had a major setbacks during 2023. He struggled walking any distance. His heart would race with just basic exertion. Tremors made their daily appearances again. When Hyrum started physical therapy in November 2023, only 5 minutes of initial testing had him in full tremors and experiencing a major crash, which lasted a week, barely able to get out of bed. He was finally coming out of this crash before we were back to his next therapy session.

The best decision we made this time doing physical therapy was to change places that we did the physical therapy. Our new PT understood dysautonomia, post-exertional malaise (PEM), and neuro-fatigue. With this new amazing therapists, she slowly guided Hyrum on increasing his baseline. These sessions were very physically demanding. The days in between were even more mentally and physically demanding. Hyrum always pushing himself just enough. Sometime it was too much and he would crash again. Recovery time decreased as the months went along. What he could increased slowly of the weeks and months.

Physical crash after PT

Silliness at PT

She was great at encouraging Hyrum to have confidence in understanding what he could do. She guiding him to take on more responsibility for his health and to be more vocal in advocating for his needs.

One of his goals was to be able to go on the 7th grade class trip in September 2024 and not need his wheelchair. All of his hard work paid off! He came home wiped out but recovered more quickly and was back in the class more than he had been the previous school years. He didn't need a motorized scooter at school anymore either. His big goals accomplished!!! He still has rough weeks but he is better at getting back to his baseline. He knows what to do and does it. This kid is fierce!

Strength that others don't see