Cincinnati Children's Blog
  • Y&H Podcast
  • Newsletter Subscribe
  • CincinnatiChildrens.org
  • Contact Us
  • Blog
  • Healthy Living
  • Rare and Complex Conditions
  • Safety and Prevention
  • Heart Conditions
  • Learning and Growing
  • Research and Discoveries
  • Blog
  • Healthy Living
  • Rare and Complex Conditions
  • Safety and Prevention
  • Heart Conditions
  • Learning and Growing
  • Research and Discoveries
  • Y&H Podcast
  • Newsletter Subscribe
  • CincinnatiChildrens.org
  • Contact Us
HOME/Healthy Living/10-Year-Old With Traumatic Brain Injury Re-Learns How to Ride Bike

10-Year-Old With Traumatic Brain Injury Re-Learns How to Ride Bike

10-Year-Old With Traumatic Brain Injury Re-Learns How to Ride Bike
July 2, 2018
Melissa Cianciolo
4 Comments

That’s my 10-year-old son, Parker, in the photo above. He’s riding a bike. That might sound like a fairly typical activity for a kid his age. But for him, it’s miraculous. I can’t watch it without getting choked up. It’s a visual marker of how far he’s come.

You see, 14 months ago he suffered a traumatic brain injury, and his surgeon didn’t expect him to survive. Getting him to re-learn how to ride a bike was one of the farthest things from our minds. At that point, we just wanted to be able to talk to our son again.

Parker’s Accident

April 15, 2017, was the longest day of my life.  Parker was riding in a Polaris Ranger with his cousin when it tipped over, trapping him underneath. Parker was flown to the hospital and taken into surgery, where he had a section of his skull removed. This was performed to give his very swollen brain more space. He spent 2 ½ weeks in the PICU at St. Vincent’s before he was transferred to Cincinnati Children’s inpatient rehabilitation program. Parker has a severe traumatic brain injury.

Parker’s Recovery

He spent two and a half months in rehabilitation. When he first got there, he couldn’t communicate, sit up unassisted or walk. He had a feeding tube put in during his stay.

I am amazed at how well the brain heals itself. All of a sudden, about two months after the accident, he was able to do a simple toddler type of puzzle. Then he started walking.  Surgeons performed a cranioplasty, which repaired the part of the skull that was cut out right after the accident. Once this happened, he was able to speak again and recovery then became rapid. I knew he had turned a corner when he correctly set up a chessboard to play.  

Fourteen months later, we feel so fortunate for the progress Parker has made. He has all of his memory, and school is going great. Parker still has some deficits, including processing speed, spacial awareness, and right-sided weakness.

Parker and His Bike

He had just learned how to ride a bike the summer before the accident. Parker had been looking forward to an upcoming biking trip with his cousins when he got into that accident. We hoped that riding a bike would be another accomplished milestone on his road to recovery.  We had tried the traditional training-wheeled bike in physical therapy with little success.  This brought us to the BeWell bike camp.

What BeWell Bike Camp Is Like

Parker was a little hesitant on the first day of camp. He mentioned to me that he was afraid of falling and getting hurt. However, he quickly got comfortable because the camp caters to kids like Parker. Kids who are recovering from an injury, those who have physical limitations, and kids who are at-risk for a sedentary lifestyle are all welcome.

Each day for 75 minutes, Parker practiced riding. He had a team of volunteers by his side, and stability equipment underneath. As he got more comfortable, a bike technician incrementally reduced the stability of the bike. By the end of the week, he was riding on his own!

Parker Rides Again!

I was overwhelmed with emotion when I saw Parker ride his bike, on his own, on the last day of camp. Excitement. Disbelief. Awe. I thought about how he was in a wheelchair just a year ago. I can’t believe how far he’s come since then. Each milestone that puts him back in line with his peers is a victory in our book. His road to recovery has been long but with continued hard work, and a little bit of stubbornness, he is getting better each day. It’s a miracle.  

We must celebrate this win with a biking trip with his cousins. Watch for us on the trail!

Related Articles

Giving Thanks for Asparagine Synthetase Deficiency Disorder Diagnosis
Giving Thanks for Asparagine Synthetase Deficiency Disorder Diagnosis
Welcoming New Roadies: 1st Annual BeWell Bike Camp
Welcoming New Roadies: 1st Annual BeWell Bike Camp
Baby Girl Wears a Helmet to Treat Plagiocephaly
Baby Girl Wears a Helmet to Treat Plagiocephaly
TAGS:
  • BeWell Wellness Programs
  • occupational and physical therapy
  • rehabilitation medicine
  • Traumatic brain injury

About the author: Melissa Cianciolo

Melissa Cianciolo is a stay at home mom to four kids: Dylan, 14, Keilah, 13, Parker, 10 and Maren, 8. She has been married to her husband, Brodie, for 15 years. When she's not taxiing her kiddos around, she enjoys spending time doing photography.

Write A Comment

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Comments

Maureen Day July 2, 2018 at 5:45 pm

Believe in Miracles! I am a friend of Debbie’s and have had Parker in my prayers from the beginning. Parker is blessed to have such a big caring family surrounding him on his journey. Continued blessings and improvement wished for Parker. He looks like a very spirit boy!

Amy July 2, 2018 at 7:24 pm

This is very inspiring! We all know and love Cincinnati Children’s hospital, but such a personal, positive story is beyond amazing to hear! I work at Parker’s school and live in the community as well. When something like this happens, I know it effects everyone in the family. To see this victory for the family is to know that they must cherish each moment of joy and accomplishment while juggling responsibilities for other children I didn’t even know they had. Kudos to them – and Parker, too, of course!!

Sue July 3, 2018 at 8:15 am

Melissa, what a miracle! I am awed by your undying Faith in Our Loving Father. Parker shows everyone who knows him or watched this miracle happen that He is in control! A child’s brain is so resilient, I have seen kids with all kinds of neuro issues excel in ways no one expected. Parker is at the top of that list! God continue to use your family to show all of us His power! It also shows what strong Faith and Trust in Him you have!
When your at your folks, let me know! I’d love to come out and ride with him!
CONGRATULATIONS! PARKER WAY TO PEDAL!

Sharon July 3, 2018 at 10:07 pm

I am so happy to read about Parker and how far he has come since his accident. I’m guessing riding the bike was just one of many miracles over the past year. His recovery is amazing. May God continue to bless and watch over Parker as he heals. God bless you Melissa and your entire family.

Topics

  • Cancer and Blood Diseases
  • Child Development and Behavior
  • Childhood Obesity
  • Chronic Care Networks
  • Cincinnati Walks for Kids
  • Featured Faces
  • Fetal Conditions
  • Fitness and Nutrition
  • Food Allergies
  • Ghana 2012
  • Health Care Public Policy
  • Health Care Quality
  • Health Care Reform
  • Healthy Living
  • Heart Conditions
  • Hospital Operations
  • Learning and Growing
  • Nurses Week 2012
  • Patient Family Experience
  • Patient Flow
  • Patient Safety
  • Pin of the Week
  • Rare and Complex Conditions
  • Research and Discoveries
  • Safety and Prevention
  • Share Your Story
  • Technology
  • The Young & Healthy Podcast
  • Uncategorized
  • Vaccines
  • Volunteerism
  • What's New
See All Topics
See Less Topics

Subscribe

Subscribe today to our family newsletter for tips, blog posts, podcasts and more.

Subscribe Now

Popular Posts

  • 6 Questions to Ask When Your Child Complains of Chest Pain 1.2k views

  • Lean, Purple Drank, Sizzurp: A Dangerous Teenage Drink 700 views

  • Stuttering In Young Kids: When To Be Concerned 661 views

  • Family Finds Heart Care Needed for Complex Condition 516 views

  • How To Increase Calories In Your Underweight Child’s Diet 293 views

  • Tips for Helping Babies Transition to Cow’s Milk 290 views

About

The Cincinnati Children’s blog features thoughts and perspectives from our experts on all things pediatric health. This blog does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Learn More »

Contact Us
  • 3333 Burnet Avenue, Cincinnati, Ohio 45229-3026
  • 1-513-636-4200 | 1-800-344-2462
  • TTY: 1-513-636-4900
  • socialmedia@cchmc.org
Connect With Us
  • Newsletter Subscribe
  • CincinnatiChildrens.org
  • Contact Us

© 2009-2022 Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center