How Winter the Dolphin inspires Jordan
One month after the movie, Dolphin Tale, was released, our family had a special gift of visiting Winter at the Clearwater Marine Aquarium. October 2011 will forever be a special memory for us. But it also changed the way we view prosthetics in our household.
When Jordan was a baby and we started using prosthetics, we were told to have her wear her helper arms all day long. Obviously that was upsetting to Jordan. Her little arm holds the keys to all kinds of sensory needs. A helper arm blocks access to that. So I struggled with the balance of what the experts told me versus the other developmental needs of my child. It was tricky.Most days it came down to just making sure Jordan wore that arm a bit. It helped her grow strength she would have had a much harder time gaining otherwise. And when she was little, logic was tough. I had a hard time explaining why she needed to wear that arm... Except that I told her it "helps" and we call it a "helper arm" for that reason. As we brought in activity hands to ride a bike, kayak, play on monkey bars or swim, it make more sense as well.But our trip to Winter helped everything really make sense.
See, Winter has a prosthetic tail because her spine was eroding because she doesn't swim the way most dolphins swim. She swims side to side like a fish instead of up and down like a dolphin. Her spine wasn't made to do that. When she wears her tail for about an hour a day (that's what we learned at the Clearwater Marine Aquarium), it gives her spine a break and helps prevent worsening her spinal damage.That's exactly why Jordan wears her helper arm. She uses her shoulder like an elbow. But if she keeps it going, Jordan is headed down a path of long term repetitive strain injuries and chronic pain. Wearing her arm at least an hour a day, gives her shoulder a break. And thanks to Winter, that all makes sense.Over the weekend, Jordan and I had a chance to go to the new Dolphin Tale 2 movie. Before we walked into the movie theater, I asked Jordan some questions about inspiration and how Winter helps inspire: