Earlier this year, eight-year-old Cieran Kelso who lost both legs to meningitis as a baby, travelled to Florida from the UK to fulfil his dream of swimming with the tail-less dolphin from the movie ‘Dolphin Tale.’
Dolphin Winter, from the movie, swims with prosthetic flippers and was the inspiration behind Cieran’s determination to learn how to swim. After seeing the movie Cieran said: “Winter’s disabled just like me.”
Surprise Visit
The family had planned the trip to Florida but kept the fact that Cieran would soon be swimming with his favourite dolphin a secret, knowing that it would make his dreams come true. He never knew about the surprise until the flight attendants made the announcement on the journey to Florida.
Cieran was only the second visitor to be allowed to swim with the dolphin, his stepmother Gemma Kelso said: “You could see the way they were in the water together – they were very calm together. Since we got back he is calmer and more content in himself.”
Determined to Swim
Cieran gets around just now through the use of false legs or his wheelchair, but he has always longed to swim with his friends. Seeing the dolphin swim with a prosthetic tail made Cieran even more determined to swim himself and seeing how happy he was when swimming with the dolphin, made the family’s year long planning all worthwhile.
The family spent months fundraising for specialist prosthetic legs that can be used in water and The London Prosthetics Clinic made unique flippers that attach to the feet.
Gemma said: “As soon as Cieran first wore the flippers it was incredible the speed he could travel through the water, his instructor even had to swim with him to keep up.
“We want Cieran to see that even though his legs were taken away by meningitis he can still follow his dreams and be like his friends, just sometimes we have to make slight adaptations to aid him along the way.”
