This week we’re taking a look at technology of a different sort, thanks to Ely and his family. Ely is a wonderful boy and his family is truly inspirational.
We invited Laura and Frank Marciano to share their story…
By: Laura Marciano
My husband and I are parents to three adorable children: Ely, Shai and Salome. Ely has severe Cerebral Palsy. The prognosis we got from the doctors was very negative… “Due to the severity of the brain damage he suffered, Ely probably won’t have a typical life and his interaction with the rest of the world will be very limited.”
Indeed, during his first 3 years, Ely seemed to be very passive and his communication was very limited. He wasn’t able to speak, to sit alone, or to move on his own. Most of the day he sat in his stroller or in his corner chair. The other children at home and at school moved too fast for him and didn’t have the patience to sit near him to play.
As parents we were worried about our son’s situation and we didn’t know how to help him with his challenges. We wanted to help Ely to live in the real world despite his motor limitations; we didn’t want to see him in the back of the social line.
We thought that maybe if Ely could move independently it would be easier for him to play with other children. We tried to adapt existing little cars and baby bikes but every time we experienced the same disappointment. He just wasn’t able to sit comfortably and use our prototypes.
Of course there was always the option of buying a powered wheelchair. The big black emblematic wheelchair. We knew that one day Ely will have to use a wheelchair but we just weren’t ready for that. We were so afraid of the image that the wheelchair would project.
We searched a lot and we finally found the Wizzybug. “Wizzy” is a combination between a toy and a powered wheelchair. Its funny and innovative design has been specially chosen for children under 7.
Ely got his Wizzybug when he was 4. Instead of being sad and downcast we were so happy to bring the Wizzybug home. Ely quickly learned how to use the joystick. He was so enthusiastic to finally do something on his own – he finally began to discover the world that up until now had not been accessible to him. He also began to communicate with other people.
Ely is now 7 and still uses the Wizzybug. Thanks to its small size, we can bring it to the park, to school, or to the shopping center. Ely is the star of the show wherever we go. Being pushed in a stroller or being carried from one place to another is fundamentally different from having active control over one’s own exploration. This autonomy has given our son self-esteem, and we definitely see a significant improvement in his social skills.
The Wizzybug has changed the life of our whole family – we can go out and enjoy things together. In addition it has allowed us to gradually and naturally enter the world of power mobility without fear or anxiety.
The Marciano Family
Ely and his Brother
To get more details about Wizzybug you can visit ELI website: www.elim.co.il
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