As parents, it’s only natural to want the best for your children. After a pool accident eight years ago, Tyler Littlefield, a Mid-State toddler, received a devastating prognosis: it was possible he would never walk or talk again.
That didn't stop the boy's father, Barry, from trying everything he could to help his son recover.
On weekends, you’ll often find the pair at the Smyrna Bowling Center, where Tyler has been able to bowl along with his father with the help of bumpers and a bowling aid.
But Barry’s friend Mattie Mitchell wanted to go one step further: what if Tyler could one day be able to walk again?
Mattie organized a gofundme page to buy Tyler a walking harness, a tool that Barry and Tyler would use together, in hopes that it might stimulate Tyler’s leg muscles.
Tyler’s family gathered to see Tyler use the device for the first time. NewsChannel 5 was there to document the moment.
Tyler’s father has hoped that with continued use of the walking harness, along with other adaptive tools Tyler uses, he may one day walk again – a goal that still has a long way to go after a very promising first step.
Click here for resources for parents on how to deal with the emotional impact of severe childhood injuries.
