It was the end of January when we first introduced you to Michael Cooney; a seven-year-old who, for the first time, walked to his father.
Michael was diagnosed with cerebral palsy at age one- but he's defying the odds with each step.
Carly Swain introduced us to that family aboard Camp Lejeune several months ago and went back Wednesday to see Michael's latest progress.
In January we saw Michael walking and communicating using a dynovox- another step of progress and that now famous video from December 2011when his father came home to Camp Lejeune from a seven month deployment, and for the first time Michael walked to his father.
Michael is now back at school and fulfilling another one of his goals. His mother Melissa says, "I figured out from the teachers, before he ever did it at home that they let him walk up the steps and down the steps by himself. They're there in case he fumbles or what not, but he does it on his own."
Melissa says, "We prepared for doing everything for him. And now we have to remind ourselves don't do things for him- let him do it on his own."
The Cooney's say they hope Michael's story encourages other parents of children with disabilities to let the child set their own limitations, no one else.
