Chapter 18 - Willa walks backward first
The first direction Willa could walk more reliably was backward.
I thought that sounded impossible.
Tori explained:
Functional movement can change when attention and learned patterns change.
Backward stepping sometimes bypasses an overlearned forward gait difficulty.
Not universal.
For Willa, it helped.
At the therapy rail she took:
One backward step.
Then another.
Then three.
She laughed.
“Of course I can walk the useless direction.”
Tori:
“Walking away from your father has practical applications.”
I stared.
Willa laughed harder.
Then forward.
One.
Pause.
Two.
Knees shaking.
Stop.
Wheelchair.
No applause.
Then school.
She expanded to four mornings.
Used wheelchair between classes.
Walker during therapy.
No one carried her.
I had to stop telling staff to hover.
Her school aide once called:
“Willa wants to transfer independently.”
My instinct:
“No.”
Then:
“What does her plan say?”
“Independent transfers when environment is stable.”
“Then follow plan.”
I hung up before fear changed my answer.
Then Milo.
He had his own setback.
His right leg began dragging again during exams at school.
Stress.
FND symptoms returned.
Willa messaged in group:
You’re supposed to be the inspirational one.
Milo:
Terrible hiring decision.
Then he returned to therapy briefly.
That helped Willa.
Recovery was not a ladder with heroes at the top.
Then Delaney’s arbitration discovery revealed one more painful truth.
Fiona had known Delaney worried about my overprotection before the accident? No, can't prophetic. Better not.
We found a post-accident email Delaney wrote to a friend:
Graham cannot survive another loss, so everything around Willa has become about preventing risk. I’m helping because he can’t function.
At first, Delaney had understood the problem.
Then:
The foundation gives him something to do with grief.
True.
Over time, she learned that my fear funded growth.
That was not a conspiracy from the beginning.
It evolved.
Institutions often become dangerous slowly.
Then arbitration mediator asked whether settlement possible.
Foundation offered:
Pay Delaney $180,000 accrued compensation/benefits and release certain disputed expense reimbursements.
No severance.
She wanted:
$600,000.
Gap.
May you like
Arbitration scheduled.
Active conflict continued.
