A Houston preemie, once told he would never walk or speak, is now six years old and changing the world one song and step at a time!
Aries was born at just 23 weeks, weighing one pound and 11 ounces. Due to his early arrival, he suffered from health complications, including fluid buildup in his brain which led to cerebral palsy, otherwise known as brain stroke.
“Emotionally, it ended up being a very, very scary time because children born that early, it’s not ideal that you want in your pregnancy,” said his mother, Aisha Atkinson.
Atkinson shared their story with ABC 13.
At two months old, Aries was invited to participate in a clinical trial, the first of its kind. He was asked to wear a cap developed by Manish Shah, M.D., and his team at UTHealth Houston and Children’s Memorial Hermann Hospital.
“We had developed a device that uses infrared light to help visualize the brain,” said Dr. Shah. “We got a great picture of his brain using this device.” Through the device, they could tell how the brain bleeds were resolving and improving, which allowed them to identify what parts of the brain needed focus.
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Dr. Shah explained how future models of this device will hopefully catch cerebral palsy early and stimulate the affected parts of the brain to reactivate their function. This would allow for a partial cure for cerebral palsy in babies.
Aries has been diagnosed with cerebral palsy, epilepsy, and is on the autism spectrum. Doctors told his mother that he would never walk or speak to her, because of his diagnoses and complications as a preemie.
However, despite all odds, he is walking and communicating! His trial of the brain cap is now helping other children defy medical odds!
After years of occupational and physical therapy, four-year-old Aries miraculously took his first steps. Now at six years old, he is walking up and down stairs, running, and jumping!
When explaining Aries’ first steps, Atkinson said, “I will never forget. My dad sitting on one couch in the living room, and I was sitting on the other across the way, and Aries kept doing the same thing. He got away, and he walked from my dad all the way over to me. I remember just cheering and crying, and just being so happy and proud of him for doing that. It was just, a miracle.”
“I thank God for it, I truly do,” Atkinson added.
Although Aries was initially non-verbal, he communicated through music, a way his mother connected with him in the womb. Now, he is able to sing melodies and relate those songs to words. Recently, Atkinson also posted videos of him explaining colors, asking for hugs, and saying, “Hey y’all!” He is improving every day!
“He’s going to learn how to do things in his timeline and in his own way. I, as his mom, have to embrace that, and I have to love him for who he is. We get so caught up in trying to control their destinies. And that’s not what we’re supposed to be here for. We’re here to amplify that destiny,” Aisha Atkison highlights.
Praise God for the miracles he is working in little Aries! We also honor his mother, Aisha Atkison, for sharing their story and inspiring other families with hope. She is a wonderful example of a mother who embodies the love of God!
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