Last year, thanks to a team from the University of Texas Medical Branch and our friend and fellow physical therapist Erin Cottos, we were able to make several standers of different sizes and styles for some of our patients to use at home. Andrew received his own bucket stander.

When we took the stander to Andrew, his mother had just given birth to his little sister. His mother had not been able to spend as much time with Andrew during the pregnancy and immediately after. It affected Andrew. Our team noticed he seemed to be struggling with depression. He missed his mom and her affection.  

This week Andrew arrived for his weekly therapy session. His mother came with him and, as you can see, they both had a big smile on their faces. Andrew’s mom is back to helping him and taking care of his little sister. His mother’s love motivates him to work hard and push through, even when he is tired, as he was today.

His mother says the stander has encouraged him to do more. In fact, there have been arguments over what to watch on TV now that Andrew can stand in his bucket stander and interact more with the family and all they are doing. Andrew still has a way to go, but he is on the right track, thanks to his mother’s love and a little help from a stander.