Debby Elnatan was told her son, Rotem, would never walk.
Rotem has cerebral palsy and, like any mother, she was devastated – but she wasn’t broken. Elnatan invented a harness that would enable him to walk, attached to her. Instead of the path he was meant to travel, one of severe physical impairments and eventual surgery, he grew stronger and – together – their walks increased from steps to miles, minutes to hours.
This week, her invention, the Upsee was launched globally by Leckey, a company that produces equipment for disabled children. Three families strapped their children in and, to the astonishment of everyone watching, the children began to walk. It was as simple as that.
One boy, Daniel, who has global developmental delay, walked towards a delighted crowd:
The story doesn’t stop with these first steps. Firefly’s Clinical Research Manager and occupational therapist, Clare Canale, said: “Short-term, the Upsee improves special needs family participation and quality of life, while research suggests it has the potential to help the with physical and emotional development in the longer term.”
The Upsee is also about having fun – children being allowed to enjoy what the rest of us take for granted:
My daughter May is disabled and we were told she’d never walk. This story isn’t just inspirational to us. May’s disabilities are so severe she will need reconstructive surgeries on her hips for much of her childhood. If the Upsee works, it may be the difference between a lifetime of therapy and pain, and walking.
The doctors told us our daughter would never walk, and now what does the future hold for her?
You can read more from Stacie at Mama Lewis and the Amazing Adventures of the Half-Brained Baby. You can also follow her on Twitter @MamaLewisBlog. More information about the Upsee can be found on www.fireflyfriends.com. Photos and video courtesy of Leckey.