By Chad Whitehead

| Tribune community contributor

Life moves fast when you’re 5 years old: kindergarten, mastering the ABCs, learning to walk at an intensive muscle therapy center.

That’s normal life for Noah and his parents Jeff and Crystal Harper of Draper.

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After a traumatic and unexpected delivery, Noah entered the world four months early, weighing 1 pound 13 ounces. After more than a dozen surgeries and lots of work with physical trainers, Jeff, Crystal and Noah have put their hope in the Now I Can Therapy Center in Provo, with the goal of helping Noah learn to walk unassisted.

"When I heard for the first time that Noah might be able to walk without assistance, I was prepared to sell anything I could to make that happen" Jeff Harper said. "Peace of mind is knowing that your kids are taken care of."

On most days, Noah’s challenges don’t bother him. He’s one of the happiest little guys you’ll ever meet. Despite his cerebral palsy, vision problems, surgeries and developmental challenges, Noah meets each with a grin that only stops because his cheeks run out of room.

This day, though, as he stands inside a bulky suit of straps and tension cords and walks toward his mom, his grin cannot be found.

"Mommy my back hurts," Noah cries. "Mommy hold me."

Noah’s proud parents are positioned at the end of hand rails, encouraging him to keep walking toward them. His little sister Ava silently stands next to him separated only by the hand rail. The unusual suit is helping train Noah’s muscles to work properly so that walking can become possible. The Harpers and Noah did this for five hours a day over an intensive three-week program.

After the first day, the therapist cut short the five hour session because Noah was so tired and had cried so much that he threw up. "I cried twice and sat down once," Jeff said, "because I thought I was going to black out."

Now, with the first treatment complete Jan. 21, Noah is doing it. The tears are gone and he is learning to walk.

"Even though it’s painful, it’ll be worth it in the long run when he can stand up and look his peers in the eye or walk down the school hall with everyone or go for a walk holding a girl’s hand," Jeff says.

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