Aquatic Therapy Benefits Faithful Y Volunteer

MCDOWELL COUNTY, N.C.,None — J.D. Grindstaff, a volunteer at the Corpening YMCA, is known for his warm greetings and heartfelt goodbyes. For over a year he has made it his duty to ensure that everyone entering or exiting the building feels welcome.

The young man, who has cerebral palsy, received the 2010 Young Adult Volunteer Award that recognizes outstanding volunteers who go above and beyond the call of duty.

Now those at the Y are doing something that will help his cerebral palsy. For the last two weeks Grindstaff has been attending aquatic therapy thanks to some convincing by Y Executive Director Tim Blenco.

" J.D. had never taken part in aquatic therapy. He had never even been in a pool before, but I told him if he would start doing the therapy a couple of times a week that one day I would come and help him with his therapy," said Blenco.

Since Blenco's promise, Grindstaff has been participating in aquatic therapy at least three times a week.

"At first he was hesitant to get in the pool, but now he really enjoys his time in the water," said Louise Grady, Aquatics and Swim Teacher at the Y.

Aquatic therapy has been used for years to help cerebral palsy patients stretch out muscles that they otherwise never get a chance to use. That was one the main reasons why Blenco wanted Grindstaff to try it

"Aquatic therapy really relaxes J.D. and recently we've added deep breathing exercises that will help him relax even more," stated Blenco.

Someone who's seen a major difference in Grindstaff's attitude toward getting into the water is his personal helper Dennis Hammond, a one-on-one assistant for N.C. Outreach.

"Before starting his therapy J.D. was hesitant to get into the water. He was worried about how he was going to get into the pool and whether he would sink once he got in. Now he looks forward to his pool time," said Hammond. "He really had to trust that we were going to take care of him."

Blenco, Hammond and Grady all hope to continue helping Grindstaff with aquatic therapy. One thing is for certain, Grindstaff will continue volunteering at the Y. "He really loves his volunteer work. If he misses a day because of a doctor's appointment or something else he makes sure that he works during the weekends," stated Hammond.

WSOC