Mother Creates Harness To Give Her Disabled Son A Chance To Walk And Is Now Helping Many Other Families

Jun 23, 2019 by apost team

Most moms always want the best for their children and this mom is no exception. She was able to invent a harness for her son in order to give him a chance to walk. Her son, Rotem, has cerebral palsy and isn’t able to walk unassisted.

Debby Elnatan, who just happens to be a musical therapist, was desperate to find a way to help her son. According to the Daily Mail, she was able to use the Firefly Upsee Harness as assistance that worked well for Rotem.

"When my son was two years old, I was told by medical professionals that "he didn't know what his legs are and has no consciousness of them," she told the publication. "That was an incredibly difficult thing for a mother to hear. I started to walk him day after day, which was a very strenuous task for both of us. Out of my pain and desperation came the idea for the Upsee and I'm delighted to see it come to fruition.'

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This harness is designed to enable Rotem to be able to stand up as if he was walking by himself. It attaches to Elnatan and allows him to move his legs as hers do and they are able to walk together.

Elnatan chose to go with an Irish company to start mass production. The name of that company is Leckey. She hopes that the Upsee will become available to many other parents that have disabled children. Families from everywhere have become quite interested and are trying it out.

"It has been humbling to see the progress and happiness the Upsee is creating; watching children to do simple things for the first time such as kicking a ball or playing with a sibling is wonderful for everyone involved, but especially the families." Said Elnatan.

The Upsee helps small children and even infants to be able to walk with the assistance of an adult. The harness is worn by attaching to any adult.

It has been a working project since 2012. Engineers, designers, therapists, and textile experts have been on the team working towards completion of the Upsee.

One mother of five from Northern Ireland, Maura McCrystal, has used the Upsee for her son Jack and had a very positive experience with it.

"Last Sunday was a significant one for us as a family as it was the first time our son Jack was able to play football in the back garden with his dad, his brothers and our little dog Milly," she told the Daily Mail. "To see Jack playing like any other five-year-old boy made me very emotional. Jack and his brothers so enjoyed it."

Clare Canale, the research manager at Firefly and an occupational therapist, sees the Upsee being a great tool for short term in families with special needs. 

"Short-term, the Upsee improves special needs family participation and quality of life, while research suggests it has the potential to help with physical and emotional development in the longer term," she said. "It has been humbling to see the progress and happiness the Upsee is creating; watching children to do simple things for the first time such as kicking a ball or playing with a sibling is wonderful for everyone involved, but especially the families."

This invention is sure to change lives for so many! Do you know of anyone that this could be helpful to? Do you have any suggestions to make the Upsee better? Be sure and let us know your thoughts.

What do you think of this amazing invention? Let us know in the comments - and make sure you pass this along to your friends and family!