Home Runs for Life: Nathan Paustian
Nathan Paustian loves a good knock-knock joke. Using his tablet-sized speech-generating device, he sets you up and delivers the punchline with a smile.
Telling a successful joke is more complicated than it looks, even more so for Nathan. The 12-year-old from Durant, Iowa, has cerebral palsy.
“His condition makes motor planning very difficult for him to organize the fine motor movements, the air tract, the breathing support, timing the vocal cords – all of that becomes very challenging,” said Heather Mosley, Genesis Outpatient Pediatric Therapy (GOPEDS) pediatric speech therapist.
Instead of using his voice, he verbalizes using the speech generator. Carefully tapping the icons on the screen to formulate sentences isn’t easy either for Nathan because cerebral palsy affects not only his speaking but also his entire body.
However, his condition has not affected his strong work ethic, smile or sense of humor. His mom, Katie, jokes that her son is so independent that “the only thing he needs us for is to drive him places.”
Nathan started working with the therapists at GOPEDS in Bettendorf at age two.
“I've been working with Nathan since 2018, and his communication and skills have grown massively in that time, both in the type of communication device he has, in the length of phrases that he uses, and in the connections that he makes with myself and other peers,” said Heather.
“Earlier today, Nathan asked me what we would do in the speech group. He built that phrase by starting with a question word, and that shows a lot of growth. Before, he might have gazed at someone and counted on them to figure out what he was thinking or infer his question,” she added.
Nathan started at GOPEDS with physical therapy, and as he got older, speech and occupational therapy were added to his treatment plan.
One of his favorite things is physical therapy in the pool with Brynn Bodermann, physical therapist and Jenna Lynde, rehabilitation tech. The 30-minute session is both grueling and joyous. Simple games and activities, which so many of us take for granted, help Nathan grow stronger, more agile, and more confident.
“He can do more in the pool because it decreases the weight he must work through. When you're at your waist level, it's 50 percent of your body weight. When you can get him up to his shoulders, it takes away 90 percent of his body weight,” said Brynn.
With the help of the pool, his therapists are seeing big gains in his walking distance and endurance.
“Nathan is such a hard worker, and his family is a big advocate for him. They bring him to therapy multiple times a week so he can get better and better. And it shows how much he has progressed over the years,” added Brynn.
Nathan’s parents, Katie and Nevin, are dedicated to helping their son live his best life.
“Our journey would be much harder without Genesis GOPEDS. I don't think we could give him the life that he has and all the support he has without the guidance they've given us,” said Katie.
“I am so proud of him and the progress he has made. I've never been prouder of anything in my whole life than Nathan’s progress. It’s amazing how all of his hard work and our hard work as a family has paid off.”
Nathan’s father, Nevin, said that sometimes kids like Nathan get overlooked by society, but there will be no way to overlook him as he rounds the bases Aug. 9 at Modern Woodmen Park as the latest Genesis Homeruns for Life honoree.
