Taking Steps for Patient Steps: How Specialized Orthotics Help Kids Walk

Jacob is a two-year-old bursting with sunshine and joy. His smile is contagious, and his happy spirit lights up every room he enters. But behind that radiant personality is a story of resilience. Born with spina bifida — a condition where the spine and spinal cord do not form properly-Jacob has limited use of his legs and reduced sensation in his lower body.

Jacob was admitted as an inpatient to Ranken Jordan for specialized wound care. Referring physicians suggested initial goals to heal the wound and to identify equipment and adjustments that would prevent future issues.  As his physical therapists, Christina Rejko and Allison Kroeger, observed Jacob, they saw an opportunity for something more — an opportunity to help him move in ways he never had before.  

Before coming to Ranken Jordan, Jacob was receiving early intervention therapy at home and at daycare.  His therapists were working on walking with Jacob, and had helped his family get a gait trainer that he was using with his AFOs (ankle foot orthotics). But Jacob was not having much success with this equipment and spent much of his day sitting, unable to shift his weight or change position easily.  This led to a wound developing on his skin, a common risk for children with spina bifida.  Because of his limited ability to feel anything below the waist including pain, wounds can quickly worsen.

With support from Ranken Jordan, Christina and Allison recognized that Jacob could take steps — literally. A custom HKAFO (hip, knee, ankle, foot orthotic) and a reverse walker would provide the stability he needed to stand and move, supporting better posture, mobility, and independence. But there was a challenge.  The type of orthotic Jacob needed was highly specialized, expensive, and not covered by insurance during his hospital stay.

Thanks to generous donors like you, Ranken Jordan was able to provide Jacob with the custom HKAFO and the reverse walker during his stay. This gift allowed Christina and Allison to teach Jacob and his mom how to use the equipment during his stay, setting him up for success at home.

And then, magic happened. Jacob took his first steps with assistance from his new orthotics and walker. This was big.  More time moving. More time being the active, joyful little boy he was meant to be.

Your generosity made this possible. Your support turned hope into reality. Because of you, kids like Jacob can keep taking steps toward brighter futures—one smile, one stride, and one milestone at a time.