Maddie and Daddy Swim Class
Children with Angelman Syndrome seemingly have a fascination with water. Maddie is no different. It’s a sensory stimulant. I’ve detailed Maddie’s sensory issues in the past. If you want to look back, just click here.
Maddie and I started taking swim class at the local Boys and Girls Club back in September of 2021. This was back before her diagnosis. We realized earlier that summer that Maddie loved being in the pool. When we saw that parent/child swim classes were being offered, we jumped at the opportunity.
I mostly just wanted to bond a little more with Maddie. This led to some great times in the pool, as well as some great stories. I’ll never forget the time when I brought Maddie to swim class. I checked her diaper before we entered the pool area. Everything was fine until we got in the water. As the group was singing songs and playing in the pool, I kept getting a whiff of something foul.
It couldn’t be my Maddie though. I had checked her back in the locker room. I thought that one of the other kids had a stinky diaper. After the half hour class ended, I learned the real truth. As I was changing Maddie, I found the real source of the odor. Thankfully her diaper did its job.
Teaching Maddie to swim or at least float is a necessity. We’re on the shoreline of Lake Michigan. There are rivers, inland lakes, and the big lake all within minutes of our house. Maddie will be exposed to water for the rest of her life. God forbid she escapes our sight and finds her way into one of these bodies of water.
This is actually a hazard for children with Angelman Syndrome. It was told to me that drowning is actually the second leading cause of death in children with Angelman Syndrome. The first is complications from seizures. I have not been able to verify this. However with AS children’s fascination with water, I do not have any reason to believe this isn’t true.
We’ve started to use water in other aspects of Maddie’s everyday life. Of course she loves her bathtime, but her occupational therapist has started to make a tray of water a part of her therapy sessions. Maddie has been much more responsive after this element has been brought in. Nicole and I actually used water to calm Maddie. We had to bring her into the ER at the advice of her pediatrician. Maddie was sobbing for 40 minutes, until Nicole thought of the bright idea to put her feet in the sink and run some water. Within 5 minutes, Maddie was back at her baseline.
As for swim class, it is one of the highlights of my week. Seeing the joy all over Maddie’s face when we get into the pool is priceless. She squeals in delight and cannot contain herself. The parent/child swim class is for children ages 3 and under. So Maddie has another year and change in this class. Once those classes are no longer available to her, we’ll make sure she is in yet another. Her smile alone; is worth it all.
- Written by Adam Birchmeier
