On the treadmill

Physical therapy used to be twice a week. It has since been cut down to once a week, but it’s an hour and a half of discomfort at best — agony and pain at worst.

January 29, 2015

Therapy is routine, and the routine helps build strength. But familiarity breeds contempt, so the saying goes, so you’d think that Namine would come to hate going to therapy. Not so.

It used to be that a mention of the treadmill would trigger a panic attack. A mere couple minutes on it would result in Namine crying uncontrollably. But as she’s grown, she’s done so both physically and emotionally. The treadmill no longer holds fear; Namine recognizes it as instrumental in building strength in her legs, and so now she looks forward to using it.

During the car ride after therapy, Namine said something to Jessica.

“I can’t wait until I can walk by myself.”

Jessica and I have always said that Namine’s own goals will motivate her more than any external factor could. She works to increase the strength in her legs every day. Even more impressive, she does it with a smile.