Help Scarlett Walk: Fund Her Gait Trainer

Hello, My name is Shana and I am supporting a wonderful family to purchase a gait trainer (an essential piece of medical equipment) so their beautiful daughter, Scarlett, can learn how to walk!

This gait trainer was recently trialed with amazing success, and unfortunately, it cannot be purchased with health insurance due to equipment coding.

Scarlett is a wonderful 5 y.o. girl with a complex medical history including genetic, neurologic, vision, gastrointestinal, and cardiac involvement. We have had the pleasure of providing physical therapy services for Scarlett since 11/04/2022.

Scarlett presents with low muscle tone and global weakness throughout. At her current level of function, Scarlett is unable to roll, sit unsupported, crawl, or walk, and she has minimal head and neck control. She has difficulty with functional reach and is completely dependent for feeding and communication at this time. Scarlett receives the majority of her nutrition through a feeding tube.

Scarlett demonstrates delay with all gross motor milestones. She is not yet able to pull to stand or walk with an assistive device. This can affect a child’s development not only physically, but also emotionally and cognitively; influencing her ability to interact at eye level with peers or to explore her surroundings during play. At an age when Scarlett’s neural development should be at its most prolific, the lack of opportunity to interact with others and her surroundings appropriately could have a significant and long-lasting impact.

Please help us raise this money, so Scarlett can find her feet and independence with her peers. She is heading to Kindergarten this fall and it would be such a gift to her to be able to walk with all her new friends!