Daniel Lemasters

Preparing for a new baby is an exciting and busy time. They will need diapers, food, toys and lots of attention. Imagine preparing for this and being told your unborn baby has a permanently disabling birth defect. How would you care for the child? What would you do? These questions echoed in Paula Lemasters' mind before the birth of her son, Daniel.

Seven months into her pregnancy, Paula was informed of her unborn son's condition: spina bifida, a permanently disabling birth defect that results from the failure of the spine to close properly during the first month of pregnancy. Now, Paula would have to prepare herself for a new baby and the possibility that her son would never walk.

Four hours after Daniel Lemasters was born, he underwent his first surgery. By nine months old, he had complete reconstructive surgery on his back. Since he was four months old, Daniel had been participating in physical therapy.

Now at four years old, Daniel is a precocious, athletic child with a great deal of energy. At Hendrick Center for Rehabilitation, Daniel goes to physical therapy four times a week. The first day at therapy, Cindy Fishbach, Daniel's physical therapist set goals for his program that would ultimately help him walk. Daniel cannot feel his legs, so teaching him to walk would be a difficult process. In two months, they would expect Daniel to be strong enough to crawl in and out of his wheelchair.

"The next time Daniel and Paula came, Daniel was already getting in and out of his chair by himself," remembers Fishbach. "I was completely shocked and excited."
Like any four-year-old, Daniel loves to play and he gets to do so in the pediatric gym at Hendrick Center for Rehabilitation. What is playing basketball to Daniel is really physical therapy. By donating to Children's Miracle Network, equipment was purchased for the pediatric gym that help kids like Daniel become stronger and learn to walk. Before Daniel was born, Paula wondered about the future her son would have. Now Paula Lemasters looks at her son and sees a boy with great potential in life. "Daniel refuses to be told he cannot do something," said Paula. " I know that he will be someone very special and do very special things.