Help children keep moving with properly fitted orthoses

About this story

Anya learned to move through years of care. She was born with open spinal dysraphism and myelodysplasia, a serious congenital condition affecting the central nervous system. In her first days of life, she needed urgent neurosurgery to remove a spinal hernia.

What followed was not one treatment, but a long path of rehabilitation: spinal surgery in Israel, regular therapy, swimming, inclusive dance, and daily practice. With specialized orthoses, Anya can now walk independently, attend school, and stay active.

For children like Anya, orthoses are not just equipment. They are part of how the body is supported during growth, movement, and recovery. When a child outgrows them, walking can become harder, posture can change, and joints may come under strain.

Birds of Life Foundation supports children and youth who need adaptive equipment as part of ongoing care. This campaign is focused on custom orthoses for children whose mobility depends on properly fitted support.

What this support covers

This support helps provide orthopedic devices and related care for children who need custom mobility support.

It may help cover:

• Custom orthopedic orthoses
• Orthopedic measurements and fittings
• Adjustments as the child grows
• Mobility-related rehabilitation support
• Care coordination through Birds of Life Foundation

Goal: $3750

Why support is needed now

Children grow, but orthopedic devices do not grow with them. When orthoses become too small or no longer fit correctly, they can stop supporting the child’s movement in the way they were meant to. For a child who has worked for years to walk, stay active, and build independence, that delay can affect comfort, stability, and daily progress.

New, properly fitted orthoses can help children like Anya keep using the mobility they have worked so hard to build.