Learning to walk isn't one of my expectations for Vera.
She doesn't stand very well for a start. Her hamstrings and heels are very tight, and she has rocker bottom feet.
But what if we are aiming too low for Vera and not pushing her to work harder, thinking that it is beyond her?
Therapy is hard work to keep up. At 16kg, Vera quite a weight to support, if she buckles at the knees in a pacer gait trainer.
Which is why we need one with a good harness support. One where she can sit in when she tires, and try again to take a few steps when she's up for it. Safer for Vera, easier for us.
Now that we've got her seating sorted for a long time to come with the Rifton Activity Chair which has worked beautifully for her posture, we are now looking into getting her a Pacer Gait Trainer, the
Grillo.
At S$3250, it is not something we can backtrack on and return if Vera rejects it. It is a long-term commitment on our part too, to put in the extra effort to be her regular "trainer". At the end of a long day, it's much easier to give her hugs and kisses than strap her up with all her protests.
The road to self-mobility for Vera is long, or may never materialise, but we cannot say we did not try.
