Author Topic: building a chopper with my son..  (Read 1140 times)

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Offline martino1972

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building a chopper with my son..
« on: April 28, 2009, 12:21:34 PM »
you may or may not know this,but I divorced from my wife last year and now finally I get visiting rights to my son....
My son had a stroke when he was 3 day's old and suffers from C.V.I. ,what means the eyes can see but the brain don't understand how to process the info from the eyes.....in other words he's legally blind....
Since I did not see em since last year,it amazed me how well he is doing...legally blind my ass...!!!!! I bought him this chopper and we assembled it together...I was looking for the big bolts for him to put in and I turn around and he's putting the smallest little screws in place..!!!!  I couldn't believe it..!!!!!!
Anyway,a few pictures of our bike build,topped off with a video of him riding it,his laugh just has to make you smile,so don't skip the video.... :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D

I'm so proud of him....




















the little bugger goes pretty fast already, ;D





Marti, I want you to know, I like you an awful lot, but guys have said far less and left wearing their drinks on their shirts.
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Offline Bob Wessner

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Re: building a chopper with my son..
« Reply #1 on: April 28, 2009, 12:25:30 PM »
What an infectious laugh! ;D
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Offline Gordon

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Re: building a chopper with my son..
« Reply #2 on: April 28, 2009, 12:26:08 PM »
That's awesome!!  I can't wait until my son is old enough for his first big-wheel.  I had a General Lee big-wheel when I was little and I rode the crap outta that thing!!  It even had a hand brake on the right wheel so you could do power slides! ;D

Offline shacolaid

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Re: building a chopper with my son..
« Reply #3 on: April 28, 2009, 12:40:35 PM »
Excellent. Watch Out, He may want to start working on the real thing!
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Offline alltherightpills

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Re: building a chopper with my son..
« Reply #4 on: April 28, 2009, 12:56:00 PM »
Ha ha, that's great marti. ;D ;D ;D
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Offline kghost

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Re: building a chopper with my son..
« Reply #5 on: April 28, 2009, 12:58:58 PM »
Very cool....

Does he get that laugh from his Dad?

Too precious
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Offline Caaveman82

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Re: building a chopper with my son..
« Reply #6 on: April 28, 2009, 12:59:59 PM »
Marti I am super happy for you man. I am glad to see that things are looking up for you.
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Offline mystic_1

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Re: building a chopper with my son..
« Reply #7 on: April 28, 2009, 01:11:44 PM »
That's superb Martino.

On the "legally blind" thing, the brain structures of children are often referred to as being very "plastic" in the sense that new connections and pathways form very easily.  You're born with all the brain cells you'll ever have, but the connections between them are almost infinitely programmable.  It wouldn't surprise me at all if you son's brain was rewiring itself to compensate for whatever injury was caused by the stroke.

You're doing exactly the right thing, imho, by encouraging him to do stuff like this.  It'll help retrain his hand-eye coordination, spacial perception, etc, etc.

It also makes you one heck of a dad.  Well done.

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Offline Tim.

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Re: building a chopper with my son..
« Reply #8 on: April 28, 2009, 04:11:15 PM »
Nice work, and +1 on kid's brains rewiring themselves.  My daughter suffered from meconium aspiration syndrome during birth, and spent 10 days on ventilators etc. immediately following birth.  CT scan and MRI showed a brain injury, and we were told all sorts of stories of possible cerebral palsey etc, but 7+ years later she's doing just fine.

Sadly we're often given worst-case scenarios to cover the doctors' butts.  Looks like your son is doing really well!
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Offline sangyo soichiro

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Re: building a chopper with my son..
« Reply #9 on: April 28, 2009, 04:18:37 PM »
Your boy seems happy.  That says a lot.
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Offline mystic_1

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Re: building a chopper with my son..
« Reply #10 on: April 28, 2009, 04:26:11 PM »
I see he's pushing it to the red line already!  Soon he'll be doing burnouts and wheelies on that thing, ya know.

Btw... 1:01 "Chopper!!!" = Priceless.

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Offline tramp

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Re: building a chopper with my son..
« Reply #11 on: April 28, 2009, 05:12:30 PM »
good memories
enjoy them
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Offline martino1972

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Re: building a chopper with my son..
« Reply #12 on: April 28, 2009, 10:12:02 PM »
I can't wait till he's a little older,where we can start fitting small engines to his rides,depending on his sight of course....

The brain is indeed a amazing adapting organ....He's missing about a third of his brain,due to the stroke,and certain things He's not suppose to be able to do at all,but he does...!!! Doctors are baffled by him,I'm just getting prouder and prouder that he's proving them all wrong........most be cause he's just as stubborn as his dad...  ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D
 
Marti, I want you to know, I like you an awful lot, but guys have said far less and left wearing their drinks on their shirts.
http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=36933.0  (my bobber)

Offline martino1972

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Re: building a chopper with my son..
« Reply #13 on: April 29, 2009, 11:13:37 AM »

Btw... 1:01 "Chopper!!!" = Priceless.

mystic_1

you should hear him say macaroni ..... :D :D

at 1:10.....

Marti, I want you to know, I like you an awful lot, but guys have said far less and left wearing their drinks on their shirts.
http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=36933.0  (my bobber)

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Re: building a chopper with my son..
« Reply #14 on: April 29, 2009, 11:31:16 AM »
Very Cool!

Might just see him on "Nitro Circus" someday!

Offline my78k

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Re: building a chopper with my son..
« Reply #15 on: April 29, 2009, 11:38:49 AM »
Aw Marti as a Dad I can't imagine how the separation must have been for you! I am so glad to see/hear that he is back in your life. Unfortunately work filters youtube videos but from the pics he looks like he is having a blast! Cute kid too...must get that from his mom!  ;)

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Offline luder

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Re: building a chopper with my son..
« Reply #16 on: April 29, 2009, 12:36:36 PM »
to cool- congrats...luder

Offline MickeyX

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Re: building a chopper with my son..
« Reply #17 on: May 03, 2009, 09:30:32 AM »
Very cool Marti!!!  ;D  I remember my first big wheel too. I didn't have the rear brake so I had to stop with the front wheel. Of course, I ended up wearing through the wheel at one spot and then it became a flat. So, I'd be riding along with the thump, thump, thump of that wheel. Makes me smile thinking about all of the fun he's gonna have on his very own chopper. It's cool that you had him help build it too.

We have a huge children's hospital up where we work and it amazes us everyday how kids can overcome and retrain the brain. When I work over there, I have to wade through the riding toys and such to get to my office. They have the kids out there in the halls playing ball, riding stuff, pushing stuff... laughing and having a great time retraining their muscles and brains. I have no doubt he'll keep progressing and be just fine.  ;D 8)
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