Spencer and Eli Pardee are adopted brothers from Guatemala, currently living in a small Michigan town. Spencer, now 13, and Eli, 11, were each adopted at 8 months of age. Both boys have overcome substantial physical challenges. Their mother, Dr. Terri Pardee, credits Mileage Club®, combined with a quality physical education program, with a good deal of their success.
Dr. Pardee (Terri), a Professor of Psychology at Spring
Arbor University, is particularly interested in Childhood Development including
high functioning autism, effects of trauma on children, and physiological
psychology. Terri explains that the brain stem of a child develops from the
bottom up. When progressive physical activity is not available to children,
their brain stem doesn’t develop in typical fashion, often resulting in a delay
of gross motor skills. Stunted brain stem development also affects the brain’s
cognitive and emotional development. Adopted children often experience physical
and psychological delays due to this lack of brain stem development. Constantly
swaddling babies, which is a common practice in third world countries because
of environmental health concerns, can also limit opportunities to strengthen core
muscles.
Spencer and Eli both experienced gross motor skill delays. Terri
recognized the importance of early intervention and enrolled the boys in the
Jackson County ISD Lyle A. Torrant Center’s Early Childhood Program where they
received Occupational Therapy, Speech Therapy, and Physical Therapy. These
provided the boys with a great assessment of their abilities and challenges, as
well as a foundation for improvement.
Spencer struggled with weak core muscles. As a first grader,
he was unable to lie on his back and roll to his stomach. He also dealt with twisted
tibias, which resulted in him being extremely pigeon toed. Spencer wore leg
braces as a young child and often tripped when he walked.
When Spencer entered 1st grade, he met Physical
Education teacher, Debbie Drake. Debbie taught Physical Education at Jackson
Christian Elementary School for 17 years ending in 2016. She has also worked at
Fitness Finders, Inc. since 1977, and helped develop and write the Mileage
Club® program alongside company founders, Dr. Charles and Beth Kuntzleman.
Terri remembers telling Debbie, “My son has pretty
significant gross motor delays. Spencer may not be able to run. He’s not being
lazy, he just not physically able to.”
Unfazed, Debbie responded, “We can work with him.”
Terri noticed Spencer began growing stronger. Motor control
was a challenge for him, but suddenly he was improving. Five years later,
Spencer was running comfortably as a 5th grader due in part to
Mileage Club®. He earned awards in his Physical Education class for push-ups
(which require strong core muscles), and he ultimately reached the top 10 in
his 5th grade class for physical fitness testing.
The Pardees offered Spencer a variety of opportunities to be
active. They enrolled him as a young child in baseball and soccer, but he struggled
with organized sports. Spencer has a reserved personality, and the sensory
overload that accompanied many such activities made it difficult for him to
master the physical skills necessary.
However, Mileage Club® was a perfect fit for Spencer.
Mileage Club® gave Spencer a framework in which to practice running, while
encouraging him to improve his performance and meet goals – all while having
fun!
“The kids had a ball
with Mileage Club®.” Terri told us in our interview.
Now a middle schooler, Spencer has joined his school’s Cross
Country team and is thoroughly enjoying the experience. At his first cross
country meet, Terri felt nervous and asked Spencer if he was sure he could run
that far. Spencer breezily replied, “Oh, yeah. We ran that far at lunch every
day for Mileage Club®.”
Spencer’s younger brother Eli experienced similar physical
challenges. In addition, Eli is currently prescribed some medications that can
affect fitness levels and may cause weight gain. Terri is delighted that Eli
has expressed the same enjoyment of running and Mileage Club® as his brother.
Eli has completed two 5K races, and is proud of his accomplishments in each.
Terri expresses gratitude for her sons’ early exposure to
Mileage Club®, and the interest and joy in running that it helped cultivate in
them. As the boys enter adolescence, running seems to help them manage their
emotions.
“Running has made the boys physically healthier, provided
them an outlet for stress, and has taught them fitness skills that they will be
able to use throughout their entire lives.” – Terri Pardee
