NORFOLK, Va. — For some children, the best Christmas gift doesn’t come in packages, boxes, or bags. It’s the gift of mobility.
Britany Brown said her son, AJ, was born with a condition that has created many challenges for him. She explained that every day would be a struggle if not for the organization known as C.A.T.S.
"AJ is not meeting the milestones of standing alone, crawling, or walking. Those milestones typically start around age one," Brown said. "C.A.T.S. provided us with a ‘stander’ so he could stand up, eat, and color. He was able to do some of the things that normal one-year-olds typically do on their own."
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C.A.T.S. stands for Children’s Assistive Technology Service. It’s a nonprofit organization that raises funds to help children like AJ learn to move around.
"We accept gently used equipment for kids, such as walkers, wheelchairs, standers, and bath seats. We refurbish and clean them, then offer them to families whose insurance has denied coverage, those without insurance, or families who need to try equipment for a certain period to determine if it’s the right fit," explained Missy Rose, the clinical director for C.A.T.S.
Rose noted that navigating insurance can be a headache.
"The problem is that once insurance approves the equipment, it takes so long to arrive that the kids probably won’t need it anymore—they would outgrow it," Rose said. "If they’re working through therapy and progressing steadily, it’s very possible that a child could use the equipment for a very short time."
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Rose said buying this equipment without insurance is not cheap.
"Nothing is inexpensive, and even equipment for small children can cost $1,000 a piece," Rose said.
This year, the organization received more than $2.25 million in equipment value.
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"We went from giving out 1,200 pieces of equipment last year to 1,500 this year, which relates to 1,500 families that we've helped," said Rose.
For some children, Santa Claus came early when they received their equipment before Christmas, like baby Amelia, who received a stander to help her sit up.
"Between this and the wheelchair we have for her already, we also have a little seat for the bathtub, which is very helpful—it makes things 100 percent easier," said Hannah Brassard.
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Rose noted that providing these kids with equipment serves multiple purposes.
"This also helps them with their breathing and digestion; it benefits every system. Not only that, but it also boosts their self-esteem, as they can now be at eye level with their siblings and peers," explained Rose.
