Simply
‘being all right’
is a lot
A 15-year-old debilitated
By Helen Altonn
by stroke, begins his path
toward running again
Star-BulletinSixto Padamada III has just taken his first steps alone, the first steps toward regaining full use of his left side, the first steps to being a cross-country runner again.
Today, he is giving thanks "for being all right."
A blood clot on the right side of the 15-year-old's brain caused his rare childhood stroke Oct. 15, said his mother, Bildren Padamada.
He expects "maybe in a year" to be back on the cross-country team at Waiakea High School in Hilo.
"I always tell him, 'Just run for fun, no run for winning,' " his mother said.
For now, he's anxious for a car wash to help offset his family's medical expenses; he also gets to go home from the Rehabilitation Hospital of the Pacific.
Sixto's father is disabled, in a care home, and the family lives on his disability income. His mother, 38, cares for Sixto's siblings -- Brenda, 14; John Ross, 8; Eisenhower, 5, and Jane, 1 -- during the day and takes Hawaii Community College night classes.
She wants eventually to be a social worker but said an associate degree is "all I can handle right now. I go part-time now."
Sixto expected to go to a Thanksgiving "party" today with family members in Ewa Beach. His mother said she was bringing Brenda and Eisenhower and leaving the other children with family in Hilo.
An outing also is scheduled for the youth tomorrow at Ala Moana Center. "He wants to buy shoes to accommodate his brace (on his left leg)," said therapist Dawn Nakamura.
Sixto said he wasn't walking when he was transferred two weeks ago to the Rehab Hospital for intensive therapy after treatment at Kapiolani Medical Center for Women and Children.
He has no knee or ankle control on his left side but is walking with a brace, a four-pronged cane and a lot of effort.
He's so motivated Nakamura and therapist Lyvonne Loui said they've had to slow him down.
"He wants to go quickly and he's missing a few steps," said Nakamura. "We want him to walk with a normal pattern," said Loui. "If he misses steps he will be limping."
And, added Nakamura, "it'll be harder to run later on."
Except for chickenpox in the seventh grade and a cold just before his stroke, the 5-foot-6-inch athlete said he's always been healthy.
He had missed practice for several days because of the cold, and had seen his doctor the day before the stroke, his mother said. "The doctor said it was only a little cold so don't worry about that."
He showed up for training with the team Oct. 15 because of a cross-country meet the next Saturday. His coach, Wayne Joseph, didn't plan to run him and told him not to practice but Sixto said he felt better.
He jogged about 500 yards and collapsed. He was rushed to Hilo Hospital emergency room, then flown the next day to Kapiolani Hospital.
Physical, occupational and speech therapists have been working with Sixto and a tutor has helped him keep up with homework to maintain his 3.8 grade point average.
He has been on the honor roll, his mother said. "I don't know how he can improve his grades because he cannot go do research. He get hard time now."
Sixto said he wants to be a computer programmer but can't type now with his left hand. However, his mobility, balance and strength have improved at Rehab, and he'll continue therapy at the hospital's outpatient clinic in Hilo.
Nakamura and Loui gave him a long workout yesterday, including walking up and down six-inch steps. "That's enough. Stop," they said several times as the enthusiastic youth continued.
Sixto said he's missed his family, and they've missed him.
"He calls every day to let me know what is happening to him," his mother said.
He had helped his mother with shopping, housework and with the computer -- both took world history last year -- and he drove his brothers and sisters to school.
He said he misses "cruisin' the mall" with his friends. But he gained a new friend when he was at Kapiolani Hospital.
Randy Francisco, who coordinates Kapiolani Community College's noncredit programs, said he heard about Sixto's stroke on the news and went to "give him moral support."
Francisco said he knew people who went through a similar experience and Sixto "is only 15 and his family is on the Big Island. He's all alone. It's a tough time."
Bildren Padamada said she was writing cards and offering special thanks today to everybody who has helped and thought about her family.
Donations to help the Padamada family with medical expenses may be sent to: Fund-raiser
Who: Sixto Padamada or his mother, Bildren
