Nathaniel Schrader, 7, of Pleasant Valley, signs his schoolwork "Nate" and sometimes goes by the nickname, "Twister," after a character on the "Rocket Power" TV show.
But his real name could be "determination," since that's what he's personified his whole life in outwitting and eventually bypassing his disabilities. Says his mother: "The biggest thing Nathaniel has going for him is his determination that nothing can stop him."
Suffering a stroke in-utero, Nathaniel was born with hemiparesis, a form of cerebral palsy that left him paralyzed on the left side. And this Sunday, May 5, he and his parents will walk a mile in their Chantilly community to raise money to help him and other children like him.
The walk begins at 1 p.m. at the Pleasant Valley pool and is sponsored by CHASA (Children's Hemiplegia and Stroke Association), a national, nonprofit, stroke support-group. The organization provides needed support and information to more than 450 families and professionals (see www.chasa.org).
Children with hemiparesis may have problems with speech and language, vision, seizures, learning and movement on one side of their body. Money raised during Sunday's walk will go to CHASA to help send needy families to the annual CHASA retreat, July 5-9, in Hershey, Pa.
Last year's event raised $1,200, and Nathaniel's parents, Steve and Dede Schrader, both 34, hope to duplicate that effort. The retreat is important because it unites Nathaniel and other children with the same disability and lets them have fun while comparing notes. Said Schrader: "These kids talk about how they do things like play video games one-handed, play basketball, ride a bike, cut their food and other things most kids take for granted, using two hands."
Unable to have children, the Schraders adopted Nathaniel at birth. But around 3 months old, his mother noticed that he'd reach across his body with his right hand, instead of his left, to reach things on his left side. Eventually, a neurologist diagnosed him with cerebral palsy but, luckily, his condition won't get progressively worse.
Furthermore, with his parents' upbeat, can-do attitude, and the support of other caring adults and friends, Nathaniel is managing life just fine. Whenever he encounters an obstacle, he and his parents work at it until they devise a creative solution.
For example, this is his second season of Chantilly Youth Association (CYA) baseball; he's on the Yankees' coach-pitch team in the T-Ball division. He plays all positions and, says Nathaniel, "I like to run to the bases." But first, he has to get on base. "Try to swing a bat with one hand and keep it level," said Schrader. Still, Nathaniel can hit the ball.
Then comes running. "Because one leg is shorter than the other, he's slower and sometimes can't run too fast to first base, but he's made it a couple times and has even scored," said his mother. "And his coaches are terrific — they all help him figure out what he needs to do. They're patient and give him encouragement."
For instance, Nathaniel can catch a ball in the mitt on his right hand. But he can't then grab it with his left hand and throw it back. Instead, he must put his mitt on the ground, get the ball out of it with his right hand and throw it with that arm.
He also skateboards, rides a bike with training wheels and can even golf. Said Schrader: "He doesn't hold the club like others would, but he finds his own way." He plays Nintendo with one hand — hitting both buttons at the same time — and he and little brother Jason, 5, do everything from climbing trees together to playing with their dog, cat and four gerbils.
But Nathaniel's best buddy is long-time friend, Sam Jugus. Both are first-graders at Virginia Run Elementary and belong to the same Boy Scout Tiger Cub troop. "They play imaginative games, like 'time machine' or 'dinosaurs,' and are also on the same baseball team," said Schrader.
At a recent Tiger Cub meeting, the boys had a wheelbarrow race, where one boy holds another's feet while that boy walks on his hands. "I was wondering how Nathaniel would do it, because he couldn't use his left hand," said his mom. "But he just found his own way to do it — he put his whole left arm down. And at camp, I don't have to worry how he'll learn to do a new skill, such as tying a knot, because I know his leaders are looking out for him."
Overall, said Schrader, "I don't think he would be doing half the things he does, without the support system he has in the community — his teachers, friends, therapists, coaches, Tiger Scout leaders, etc. Anybody with any special need or disability needs that."
At school, it takes Nathaniel longer to take off his backpack than the other kids, but he still fits in fine. He likes recess, P.E. and snacktime best, but also enjoys math, science and field trips. Since he has some learning disabilities, he's slow at reading, but he can do it. At the moment, his favorite books are the "Magic Treehouse" series.
As for life skills, he's learned to tie his shoes with one hand, use a special knife letting him cut meat without holding a fork at the same time and put toothpaste on his toothbrush, one-handed. He can even soap up his washcloth, shower and wash his hair by himself.
"It makes him more independent and have more self-esteem," said Schrader. "We don't take any of his achievements for granted — everything is a big deal. Often, people who don't know him don't realize he has a disability and can't use half of his body — and that's the greatest pat on the back a mother could get."
This Sunday, the Schraders will join others, nationwide, in the CHASA walk to help children like Nathaniel. Tax-deductible pledges for Nathaniel's walk may be made payable to CHASA and sent to: Steve Schrader, 15252 Louis Mill Drive, Chantilly, VA. 20151, ATTN: CHASA.
"At the retreats, we see kids with more severe cases of cerebral palsy, and we come home and count our blessings that Nathaniel has as much use of his arm and leg as he does," said his mom. "Then we'll see kids that have more use of their arms or legs than he has. But instead of making him discouraged, it motivates him. We see something they can do and take it as a challenge as a family to figure it out."