Thomastown physiologists help boy, 11, take first steps

VIDEO: Watch the heartwarming moment Melbourne 11-year-old Aaron Jardim, born paralysed from the waist down, takes his first steps.

A BOY born paralysed from the waist down has taken his first steps as an 11-year-old, thanks to a devoted team of Thomastown physiologists.

Aaron Jardim, who has spina bifida, walked with assistance for the first time at The Next Step Spinal Cord Injury Recovery Unit just a few weeks ago.

Aaron, from Niddrie, was born with a just little sensation in his quadriceps due to a vertebra not forming correctly around the spinal cord while in the womb.

Aaron’s mum, Rose Fazio, said her son had been visiting the unit since it opened in March last year.

“Initially it was simple things like transferring in and out of the car that was the biggest thing we achieved,” Ms Fazio said.

“Lately we’ve been working on taking steps, with the help of a frame and the therapists.”

Aaron first experienced being upright on his feet on July 22.

“To feel what it is like to be tall is amazing and to be aware of your own feet and to take the steps is huge,” Ms Fazio said.

“Walking is just the bonus.”

Aaron works once a week at the unit with a team of three physiologists: Cormac Collins, Allie Edwards and Stacey Hynes.

Mr Collins said the focus was on stretching and strengthening and mobility when Aaron first arrived at the centre.

From there they worked from the ground up, progressing to crawling and, eventually, getting Aaron into a standing position.

“On the day we said we’re going to do some standing work and he was pretty good at it so we continued on to do some stepping,” Mr Collins said.

“It really has just been a natural progression of the work he’s done with lots of different people over the past year.

“Seeing it happen and see him go over a 10-metre span and his mum being there was a cool thing to see.

“Being that those were his first steps since he was born it was really great.”

Mr Collins said walking was now Aaron’s favourite activity.

“Even though it’s hard work for him it’s become a priority every week,” he said.

“We want him to be able to use a frame or crutches so he can actually move around the house, do tasks himself and get out of the chair, that’s the future goal.”

Ms Fazio said Aaron was the youngest client at the centre and the only one with a congenital disorder.

“We’re told when they’re born there is nothing you can do beside basic physiotherapy,” she said.

“People need to realise that there is so much more that can be done.”

Details: thenextstepsci.org.au