Carried in his mother’s arms, Dylan arrived to the Devices 4 the Disabled Clinic, surrounded by other people who love him most—his aunt, his sister, and his brother. Almost 10 years old, Dylan loves to play with his siblings. Living with cerebral palsy, he relies on others for mobility. But when the wheelchair he used broke, everything stopped. Without it, he couldn’t ride the school bus. He couldn’t attend school. His independence, his routine, and his world suddenly became smaller.
His family came to D4D with one hope—a wheelchair that would allow Dylan to return to school and regain the independence he deserves. You could see both hope and hesitation in their eyes: they arrived with humble hearts—not wanting to ask for anything, yet deeply grateful for any support that could help Dylan move forward.
We first fit Dylan with a wheelchair that is just his size—a chair that matches his needs and his potential. And go he did. The moment he sat in the chair and pushed the wheels, Dylan wheeled himself across the clinic with a huge smile, laughter filling the room as he discovered the freedom of moving on his own. One of those unmistakable reminders that the right equipment doesn't just support mobility—it unlocks it.
From there, together we explored other mobility equipment options that could support his strength, confidence, and independence.
With that came another special moment.
With his family watching, Dr. Robbie O’Shea, our Director of Clinical Services and physical therapist, fit Dylan with a gait trainer, positioned herself behind him as he grasped the trainer, and enthusiastically said:
“Here we go!”
And, when asked, are you ready? Dylan flashed a huge grin.
“READY!” he announced.
Counting his steps out loud with every step, everyone cheered. Finding confidence, Dylan exclaimed, "Que puado! (I can!)" He then laughed as he lost his balance backwards, "Casi me caigo (I almost fell!)" But knowing Robbie was right there with him and that he had the the support he needed, Dylan kept going!
Way to Go Dylan! When he got across the room, he looked up at his family, beaming with excitement. Their faces said everything: pride, relief, gratitude, and a glimpse of a future filled with new possibilities.
After a hard-earned walk, Dylan sat proudly in the lap of our staff, wiped his forehead, and let out a dramatic, triumphant, “Phew!” The whole clinic laughed and cheered.
Dylan eagerly tried different devices, and with curiosity, joy, and a contagious excitement, he was ready to try anything. As he saw the world from a new perspective, he moved toward his siblings to show his new skills, experiencing redefined possibilities.
Bravo Dylan!
For Dylan, this wasn’t just a good day—it was a beginning.
A beginning made of courage, family, community, and the belief that every child deserves the chance to move, explore, and participate fully in life.
And as his family prepared to leave—with a new wheelchair, new options, renewed hope—Dylan, very proud of what he just accomplished and a little tired from all of his hard work, shared another smile with his family and the D4D team.
Yes, you can, Dylan!
You can keep moving forward—into every next step, every new possibility, and a future that keeps opening wider for you.