Richard listened, then made a choice: he would let her help Ethan—but under strict conditions. She would explain every step first. If he saw anything strange, she would stop immediately. And no one else was to know; he refused to be labeled a reckless father if things went wrong.
Maria agreed.
That night, Richard spoke to Ethan. He asked how he’d felt during the earlier exercises. Ethan said it was like his legs were alive again—he still couldn’t move them, but he could feel them.
When Richard asked if he wanted to try again, with clear rules, the boy’s whole face lit up. They agreed: three times a week, after regular physical therapy, Maria would do her special sessions, and Ethan would describe everything he felt—good or bad—and stop the moment his father asked.
The first official session started the following week, with Richard watching closely. Maria laid a towel on the living room floor, helped Ethan lie down, and, visibly nervous, began. Ethan told her it would be fine. She placed her hands on his feet, explaining she was just “feeling where the energy was.” Then she gently pressed specific points on his feet and ankles, asking him to tell her if he felt anything.