Hello to our loving family and friends, 

Callum Cutler is a healthy two and a half year old boy who loves doing all the typical two year old things: playing at the play ground, playing ball, swimming, and exploring everything the world has to offer. He is inquisitive, kind, smart, funny, thoughtful and capable. The only catch, he can't walk on his own yet. 

When Callum was born, we had no idea the journey on which we would find ourselves to help him learn to walk. Callum’s parents noticed early on in his development that he was particularly rigid in his legs. This did not seem to affect his crawling, but when he attempted to stand, they knew something was off. His posture was misaligned, his knees weren’t bending, and the steps he wanted to take while hanging on to his mom and dad were clunkier than that of a typical toddler attempting to walk. 

Since then, Callum has used a walker in order to move around independently. This has helped immensely as he and his parents welcomed his baby sister, Brecken, into the world, but it hasn’t provided them with any answers. At Callum’s age, his peers often don’t know how to interact with him when they see his walker. While Callum brings a smile to anyone that passes him at church or at the grocery store, it can be difficult for Callum to make friends because of his delay. His parents can tell that he wants to feel included, but (to no fault of anyone) that’s not always the case. He loves to play with his three year old cousin Quinn, but cannot run and jump like her. When he watches her play soccer or jump in the pool, he can't quite keep up. Despite these challenges, Callum does not let anything hold him back. He loves to read, create things with Play-doh, draw, sing songs (much to the enjoyment of his music teacher parents), and show people how fast he can go with his walker. 

Over the past 12 months, he has completed various methods of PT, chiropractic, and holistic care for delayed walking through area clinics and the University of Iowa Children’s Hospital. Through many rounds of testing and scans, still no answers have been found that would contribute to his delay. We wish that these answers were evident, but Callum takes each day one crawl (or steps with his walker) at a time. 

Callum has made progress over the year and has been recommended to some more intensive programs to hopefully help his body make the final leap/connection to get him walking independently and with confidence. Callum is on a waitlist for a three-week long intensive PT center in Chicago. He just completed a week-long intensive therapy session at a neurodevelopment center in Des Moines and will complete another week in the fall. Doctors are currently considering a missed diagnosis of Cerebral Palsy, other neurological disorders, or auto immune disorders. These intensive therapy programs cost $6,000 a week not including housing and expenses for the family.

Unfortunately, there is no timeline on diagnosis, treatment, and the future. Many funds will be needed to support this loving Christian family of four for these upcoming years. Please join us, the Cutler family, the Soukup family, the Kearney family, the Linn-Mar family, the Marion Methodist family, and all friends, family, and donors who believe in helping this precious Callum.  Thank You! 

Two and half years ago our beautiful grandson was born. Callum is an amazing little boy. He is smart, creative, and kind. He loves music, Mickey, Bluey, his family (not necessarily in that order) and is always smiling and laughing. 

Callum has tried very hard to walk unassisted. He crawls across the floor so quickly, pulls himself up, and then takes maybe two steps. Then he tries again, and again. As grandparents we play with him constantly, but it breaks our heart to see Callum struggle. 

Lauren and Andy have seen multiple doctors (family,  neurologists, holistic treatments, chiropractors) to help Callum. He has been poked and prodded by many different health professionals and has had several X-Rays, MRI’s, Neurologic, Blood and Genetic testing completed with no definitive answers to this point except possible Cerebral Palsy diagnosis.

He has shown progress in independent standing, balancing and taking small steps with physical, water, chiropractic and neuro development therapies, but has much more to work on. 

The costs of all of this is quickly mounting with seeing doctors and specialists in their fields, some of which insurance is not covered by. The family can only assist with so much and the need is great with all doctors stating that Callum should eventually be able to walk unassisted. Thank you to those who’ve chosen to assist the family with monetary gifts. It is appreciated. Please continue to offer prayers for Callum, his family and doctors on this journey of his lifetime.