Exploring Stander Options

We tried out a different stander at therapy yesterday. The first stander we've been trying is a Static Stander and you get Tessa loaded in it supine (meaning face up). This different stander we tried yesterday, pictured below, is a Dynamic Stander and we put Tessa in it prone (face down). Considering the fact that it could take up to 3 months to actually get her own stander (once all the approvals and paperwork are processed) we are trying to look a little further in the future for how her needs could change between now and then. Tessa has more of a difficult time in this one since there is no head support, but it is amazing because she would be able to motor herself around in it with the wheels. The lack of head support is definitely very challenging for her (as you'll see in the videos below), but I get a little teary thinking about her being able to roll herself around in this one when she does gain more head control and the strength in her hands to move the wheels!

This particular stander is called a Rabbit Pediatric Mobile Stander. The other feature about it that is nice is it is much more compact than the other one. It's exciting but at the same time, I find myself wanting to be a little cautious. Tessa didn't have near the same reation to this one as the first one because it does require so much more work on her part. BUT, we prefer to be hopeful, that by the time this one came in for her, she will have gotten that much stronger and it will be the perfect thing for her at that time. It is just so exciting to think about the freedom this would give her when she is ready to be free and motor herself around. The wheels on this thing are amazing...with just the slightest touch she can learn to move around. This would be such an incredible cause and effect experience for her too.

The last thing we want is for any of this to be a negative experience for Tessa. We want her to enjoy it...so that she'll want to be in it and work hard. This whole equipment thing has been an emotional experience for us in general, but we're excited about the world of opportunity it opens up for Miss Tessa. For those of you that have continued to pray for her progress, please keep the stander decision in your prayers as we let go and seek to trust that God will provide her with exactly what she needs. We continue to trust that and thank you for your prayers and trust in that too.

~Whitney