A Success Story

Today was testing day at occupational therapy. Ish's year review is next week, so his therapist needed to document what he can/cannot do. And the verdict? He can do everything. Moreover, in some areas, he is performing at a 24-month-level. His therapist and I both spent time remembering back in the early days when he was four months old and experts assumed he would struggle to keep up with his peers. Crawling was to be the last milestone that he could accomplish without intervention, self-feeding was going to be a challenge, manipulating small toys would be a frustration - but he has plunged in and overcome each.and.every.thing. And once again, his therapist said that she can see this being the pattern - that he will be an overcomer, one who excels at anything he tries. Anybody else's heart exploding with praise to God?

The therapist said that, in addition to his internal drive and the motivation to keep up with his brothers, his above average abilities could actually be attributed to the fact that he is missing fingers. His disadvantage actually became an advantage, for as he focused and worked hard to do what is easier for others, his muscles and his skills matured to a higher level.

Needless to say, today was his last official occupational therapy appointment.