What started as a simple cold in April quickly became something much more serious for 9-year-old Calvin Van Hofwegen. Within days, the Colton, South Dakota, native was diagnosed with encephalitis and meningitis. Swelling on his brain led to a seizure that impacted the use of his arms, legs and even throat muscles.
When Calvin arrived at Madonna Rehabilitation Hospitals’ specialized pediatric rehabilitation program, the active young athlete faced challenges with daily tasks like walking, dressing, and communicating.
“In the beginning, he was only using writing and gestures to communicate,” Cait Scott, MS, CCC-SLP, CBIS, Calvin’s speech-language pathologist, said. “He could not say words to effectively communicate his wants and needs.”
For Calvin’s therapy team, recovery started by getting to know the little boy behind the diagnosis.
“He absolutely loves sports,” Haley Haefner, PTA, Calvin’s physical therapist assistant, said. “So we tried to incorporate those as much as we could. It helped him remember the ‘why’ behind what we were doing in therapy and how it related back to him.”
Whether it was throwing a ball, playing games or turning exercises into friendly competitions, therapy became more meaningful because it reflected Calvin’s interests.
“He was also very competitive,” Alysa McKenny, OTR/L, CAPS, Calvin’s occupational therapist. “You could really get him going in therapy sessions by making a competitive game out of what you were doing.”
That personalized approach helped Calvin stay motivated as he worked to rebuild his strength, coordination and independence.
“When Calvin first arrived here, he had a lot of difficulty with some of the basic life skills—dressing, walking around and using his arms to gather items,” McKenny said. “He was able to move, but it was slow, uncoordinated and just not where he was before his injury.”
Speech therapy focused on helping Calvin find his voice again, one conversation at a time.
“We practiced his siblings’ names and saying certain things to his mom and dad,” Scott said. “I think that helped him come out of his shell and see that he could do it.”
Calvin’s family became an extension of his therapy team.
“Both his parents were great advocates,” Haefner said. “They were always there during his sessions. They incorporated the things that we worked on during the day in the evenings and on weekends, and I think that helped his progress a whole lot too.”
As the weeks passed, the little victories began adding up.
“When Calvin first came, he was not really walking,” McKenny said. “By the time he left, we basically had to tell him to stop running. We were like, ‘Slow down!’ He was shooting hoops, catching and throwing a ball all over the place and having a great time getting back to himself.”
Looking back, Calvin’s family says they’re grateful not only for how far he’s has come, but for the care that helped him get there.
“Everything you can see on him today, the walking, talking, eating really well and using his arms and hands, is a lot better,” Calvin’s dad, Derry, said. “He’s actually started to run a little bit now too. That’s really exciting to see.”
When asked what made the biggest difference in his recovery, Calvin’s answer reflects the determination that carried him through every therapy session.
“Showing up to all of my therapies and giving 100%.”