Marymount University DPT Program Dedicates a Day of Service on MLK Day with Another Go Baby Go Event!
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By: Sydney Symons, SPT Class of 2022 & Ashley Jones, SPT Class of 2022
Motorized wheelchairs are not an easy investment for a family with a child who is physically disabled. Such wheelchairs cost anywhere from $10,000 to $25,000 and, naturally, kids outgrow them in just a few years. This is a heavy burden on any family, and consequently, kids who can’t walk independently go without a way to move easily. Dr. Cole Galloway, PT, PhD, FAPTA, and founder of Go Baby Go, saw this need and sought a solution. The Go Baby Go Program, now a nationwide project, modifies motorized ride-on toy cars to make them an affordable “wheelchair” of sorts. This program literally changes children’s lives, allowing them to keep up with their siblings and peers without crippling their family’s financials. Thanks to the chance meeting between Dr. Galloway and Marymount University’s DPT Chair, Dr. Skye Donovan, Go Baby Go has been running at Marymount University in Arlington, VA, since 2014. Full-time MU DPT faculty member Dr. Jason Craig shares the workload with Dr. Donovan to meet the mobility needs of local children. In celebration of a day of service on Martin Luther King Jr. Day, the faculty and students of Marymount’s DPT program came together once again to build cars for five more kids with mobility challenges. Each child always has a unique story and unique effect on the lives of those involved.
One of the kids who received a car that day was M, a three year old with Cerebral Palsy. The builders spent the morning personalizing a pink jeep for her. Sydney Symons, SPT, shared her experience of building M’s car and then watching her discover it: “M climbed into that pink jeep with her name spelled out in pink and red letters on the license plate with the biggest smile on her face. It was adorable how she shyly pressed the big yellow button that we had added to replace the pedals, then looked startled when the car jerked forward a little bit, and then timidly giggled. Each time she pressed it, she glanced up at her mom, her grandmother, and us with wonder. It made my heart so happy to watch her discover that she could move, and fast, on her own.” After many giggles and trial runs, two members of the building team picked up her car to load into their family’s car; M whimpered out a soft “no” with a look of horror on her face seeing her new car being taken away from her. What a moment to realize what this meant for M. Just a small girl, M realized that this was a big moment for her. She was going to be able to move.
Another child that had a car built for her was D, a two year old with excessive extensor tone and difficulty maintaining core stability. Building D’s car came with some roadblocks for the team. First, because of D’s challenges, her car needed more personalized alterations. One unique modification made for D was a brace made by bolting a toddler swim vest to the seat of the car. Buckling D in the vest allowed her to remain upright in her new ride. The team of builders had the car ready for D when she arrived, but they quickly realized the car simply wasn’t the right fit. That did not stop them, however, and with the patience of the build team along with D and her family, they hunkered down and built a second, smaller car that was sized more appropriately for her. Ashley Jones, SPT, recognized this as a moment of success, stating, “D really hit the jackpot on this one, because she drove out of there in a brand spanking new Maserati!” The size of the Maserati more effectively met D’s needs at her current size. Always keeping the needs of those they serve in mind, the Marymount students and faculty decided to keep D’s larger car safely tucked away in the garage with her name on it until she will fit in it. Ashley Jones again shared her thoughts about two things that stood out to her after this experience: “First, D’s family was so excited for her to finally have the independence in mobility she had been lacking that they didn’t hesitate to stay almost two extra hours. They exuded gratitude to our team for the time and effort we put in to making sure D got exactly what she needed. Second, not one person on the build team hesitated staying longer to make this right for D. The goal was to have D and her family leave with a car that would work for her, and we made that happen.” The comments and experiences from students and faculty show Marymount’s mission of emphasizing sincere service to others.
In so many aspects of life we can identify the needs of others and figure out how to best meet them. Physical therapy gives the amazing opportunity to change lives even with simple movement modifications. Don’t let not being able to think outside the box limit you from changing anyone’s life. Doing so might change yours in the process.
First picture: M, 3 years old, and the team that built her car (from left to right: Katrina Chu, Sal Fogarino, Kate Czerniak, and Sydney Symons); Second picture: Car built for D.
