Funny 12-year-old latest Homeruns for Life honoree

The latest Genesis Homeruns for Life honoree may not be able to speak, but he can still crack jokes. Nathan Paustian will be honored at Modern Woodmen Park on Friday during the second inning of the game against the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers. The game starts at 6:30 p.m.

Nathan is a fan of good knock-knock jokes. He uses his tablet-sized speech-generating device to set up and deliver punchlines with a grin. This is more challenging because Nathan, 12 from Durant, has cerebral palsy.

“His condition makes motor planning very difficult for him to organize the fine motor movements, the air tract, the breathing support, timing the vocal cords – all of that becomes very challenging,” said Heather Mosley, Genesis Outpatient Pediatric Therapy (GOPEDS) pediatric speech therapist.

He communicates using the speech generator instead of using his voice. Tapping icons on the screen to create sentences isn’t easy because cerebral palsy affects not only his speaking but his entire body.

Nathan still has a strong work ethic, smile and sense of humor. Mom Katie Paustian says he’s so independent that “the only thing he needs us for is to drive him places.”

Nathan started working with the therapists at GOPEDS in Bettendorf when he was two years old.

“I’ve been working with Nathan since 2018, and his communication and skills have grown massively in that time, both in the type of communication device he has, in the length of phrases that he uses, and in the connections that he makes with myself and other peers,” said Mosely. “Earlier today, Nathan asked me what we would do in the speech group. He built that phrase by starting with a question word, and that shows a lot of growth. Before, he might have gazed at someone and counted on them to figure out what he was thinking or infer his question.”

Nathan started with physical therapy, and as he got older, speech and occupational therapy were added to his treatment plan. One of his favorites is physical therapy in the pool with Brynn Bodermann, physical therapist and Jenna Lynde, rehabilitation tech. The 30-minute session is both grueling and joyous. Simple games and activities help Nathan grow stronger, more agile and more confident.

“He can do more in the pool because it decreases the weight he must work through. When you’re at your waist level, it’s 50% of your body weight. When you can get him up to his shoulders, it takes away 90% of his body weight,” said Bodermann.

Using the pool has meant big gains in his walking distance and endurance.

“Nathan is such a hard worker and his family is a big advocate for him,” said Bodermann. “They bring him to therapy multiple times a week so he can get better and better. And it shows how much he has progressed over the years.”

Katie and Nevin Paustian, Nathan’s parents, are dedicated to helping their son live his best life.

“Our journey would be much harder without Genesis GOPEDS,” said Katie. “I don’t think we could give him the life that he has and all the support he has without the guidance they’ve given us. I am so proud of him and the progress he has made. I’ve never been prouder of anything in my whole life than Nathan’s progress. It’s amazing how all of his hard work and our hard work as a family has paid off.”

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