All I want for Christmas is... Noah to walk!

David Scott is organizing this fundraiser.

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Hi, my name is Dave, better known as Dad to my 5-year-old son Noah. I am raising money to fund a Trexo Home Robotic Gait Trainer so that Noah can walk. All I want for Christmas is this opportunity for him.

Noah was born in 2018 at 27 weeks gestation, weighing only 1 lb, 14 oz, and spent the first 121 days of life in the NICU (but who was counting?!). During his time, he defied insurmountable odds and overcame more obstacles and hardships than I ever will in my lifetime. He is our miracle. At some point, Noah experienced an injury to the brain and was diagnosed with dyskinetic quadriplegic cerebral palsy. In short, he has limited use of his arms and legs and currently uses a wheelchair to get around. That said, he is sharp as a tack, the most determined and persistent young man I know, and has the most contagious laugh and smile.

When Noah was released from the NICU, Marci (his Mom) and I promised him a life of adventure, seeing the world, and never being held back by however his disabilities presented themselves. His first winter, he shared his contagious laughter at an orphanage in Guatemala City, Guatemala and explored the breathtaking countryside of Antigua. In the past five years, he has hiked through numerous National Parks from North Cascades in Washington down to Everglades in Florida and many in between. Noah has a flare for life and loves riding on horseback, boat, bicycle, 4-wheeler, or even just on piggyback (my back, not a real pig…) whatever allows him to feel the wind in his face. He loves dinosaurs, trucks, Mickey Mouse, and playing with other boys and girls. His favorite thing to do at the playground is to go down the slide. Noah goes to kindergarten full time and loves being immersed in a classroom full of children. Noah loves life and is truly an inspiration.

His last 5 years have also been riddled with countless doctor’s appointments, therapist visits, and even two major surgeries (femoral osteotomy) in the last 18 months to help correct the development of his legs/hips. Because Noah spends most of his time seated or lying down, he does not weight bear enough to overcome his low tone and allow his legs/hips to develop appropriately. Even with intensive physical therapy and time in his stander and gait trainer, it’s just not enough. If we don’t make a change and find a way to weight bear, build more muscle, and develop his gait, Noah will have to undergo surgery again in the future. Enter, the Trexo Home Robotic Gait Trainer.

A Trexo Home Robotic Gait Trainer supports even the most significantly impaired child in an upright position, allowing for weight bearing and lower extremity movement. It can enable active physical activities such as walking. Paired with a gait trainer, the Trexo consists of two robotic legs. These legs attach onto Noah’s legs and can provide variable powered assistance to help with the initiation and stepping in a physiological gait pattern. In short, these robotic legs will allow Noah to walk at home, school, around the block, heck anywhere… and he will be able to explore his environment and live his life in a way that was previously unthinkable. Also, the amount of time spent weight bearing and developing his gait can prevent future surgeries.

The Trexo Home Robotic Gait would literally give Noah a new lease on life and allow him to walk. It would answer his 3-year-old sister’s plea when she says, “I want Noah to be able to walk like me.” If you have anything left to give this holiday season, please consider Noah. He longs every day to run and play like other children, and while it may never look exactly the same, this gift would be literally life changing.

All I want for Christmas is for Noah to have the chance to live the fullest life possible through walking. Thank you for the consideration and Happy Holidays!