Help Give Sam a Bioness L300

When he was born Samuel had a stroke caused by the traumatic birthing and delivery process. From the beginning, it left his left side weak and the muscles tense. Everyday since he was born Sam's body has been using 3x more energy to do any movement than the average person uses to do the same movement. Despite this obstacle Sam has learned to swim, ride a bike, do Taekwondo, hike and participate in Scout activities, as well as all of the tiny developmental milestones (holding a cup, using scissors, tying his own shoelaces) to which most people never give a second thought. He loves anime, learning magic tricks, swimming and playing video games.

As his parents we want him to continue to focus on these childhood goals and not have to waste his energy and concentration on putting one foot in front of the other. The Bioness Pediatric L300 Foot Drop System (http://www.bioness.com/Home.php) is a wearable surface eletrical stimulation device that Sam has been using for over three years in his physical therapy appointments. It has shown itself to be very effective for him and he has made extraordinary advances in strength and mobility.

These results have been amazing, but Sam still struggles with balance and coordination. As a child with hemiplegia, his Foot Drop makes him prone to tripping and accidents. To protect himself from injury he must currently wear a custom molded orthotic brace or large amounts of therapeutic tape on his leg.

It is our 2014 goal to buy Samuel an L300 device of his own to wear every day instead of just during weekly PT sessions. We believe that it is important for his health and his growth that he use this device for more than one hour a week. However, neither of our insurance plans cover the cost of SES devices like the Bioness Pediatric L300 for Foot Drop, so we are asking the people that know Sam and love him to help us to raise the funds to make this happen! If you would like more information please feel free to ask either of us. We thank you in advance for any donation, large or small, to our Bioness L300 campaign!

Sincerely,
Michelle Bailey & Jason Bingham