Experimenting with Swimming
The summer swimming season is here! Miss Jordan decided that she’d get experimental while we were in the pool. Two days in a row, she asked to use her activity arm and two different hands while we were there. First, she gave her swimming arm a try – it’s a little paddle that could give her extra pull. She was swimming last year without her helper arm… so it isn’t a must-wear item. But she decided to use it for splashing and having fun, but not a lot of actual swimming this past weekend.
She also used her hook hand to play on the monkey bars. I don’t have any pictures of her hanging on the monkey bars because she asked me to help carry her across every time. She created quite a spectacle at the pool while trying out the playground bars. I love that she’s willing to experiment with the tools she has. It’s almost been a year since we went to Chicago to build this special water-proof arm. I love that she’s still using it. Even better, I love that she’s asking to wear it.
Along with playing with helper arms, Jordan had a chance to play with her friends, enjoy the sun… and even a popsicle. Not a bad weekend I’d have to say.
can she use the body powered hook for the monkey bars? This is why Tate wanted a “robot hand” but we were told that it would pull right off. MIght he be able to use it after all?
Jordan’s arm has replaceable “hands.” She uses a suction sleeve that has something like a screw that clicks into her arms. This is what her activity arm looks like with her “hook.”
http://www.flickr.com/photos/reeveskids/4689349465/in/photostream
Jordan is only 40 pounds (recently grew to 40 pounds) so her suction can hold if she isn’t sweaty. It certainly stretches the sleeve, but it’s holding her to the monkey bars long enough to dangle a little. I’m physically helping her go bar to bar… she isn’t able to do it alone. But I’m proud of her for trying it at all… especially in front of a bunch of kids staring at her.
Can I ask where you went in Chicago to get the water proof arm? My step daughter just got a prosthetic and we’re working with her on it. She LOVES to swim and asked about using the prosthetic in the water. It would be great to find somewhere that does the activity arms. We are an hour south of Chicago so it wouldn’t be a difficult trip for us.
Thanks!
Hi Lucinda! Sorry for my delay in replying to you. We work with Dave Rotter at Scheck and Siress. He’s really creative about finding ways to help people with limb differences be as active as anyone with four full limbs. Check him out and feel free to email me at jen at bornjustright dot com if you need more details.