Following ‘Dr. Phil’ Airing, “Baby” Izaiah Returns to Rehab With Help From Project Walk
San Diego, CA (PRWEB) April 11, 2014 -- Few have captured the hearts of the public and the media the way “Baby” Izaiah has. At just 18-months, Izaiah Wallis was struck by a drunk driver while his grandfather walked him in a stroller. The accident left Izaiah with a severe brain injury, partially blind and paralyzed from the chest down.
The story of Izaiah’s tragedy went viral and the media quickly nicknamed the toddler “Baby” Izaiah. Three years later, Izaiah’s story continues to gain media attention as he was recently featured on the ‘Dr. Phil’ Show where he and parents Jacob, 24 and Lucy, 25 received an oversized check in the amount of $173,814 from the Dr. Phil Foundation. Funds were given to help with Izaiah’s program at Project Walk; and to help with escalating medical costs and new mobility equipment to assist with Izaiah’s day-to-day living.
Yet despite the daily struggles, Jacob and Lucy are moving forward with a new chapter in Izaiah’s story and now bring the almost five-year-old to weekly sessions at the Project Walk Paralysis Recovery Center in San Diego, CA.
“Therapy was something that Izaiah didn’t enjoy,” says Father, Jacob. “But the Specialists here [at Project Walk] found a way to relate to him. They brought movies to his workouts and we’ve seen such a change in him. In just a few sessions there has been a real difference.”
Based on The Dardzinski Method, Project Walk uses intense activity-based recovery backed by research and technology to expose those affected by paralysis to the most forward-thinking rehabilitation in the industry.
“We are thrilled to have the opportunity to help Izaiah,” says Project Walk Specialist, Jordan Weller. “We really want to get him out of the chair, working on improving movement and coordination. Our program is perfect for him and I have big hopes that Izaiah will improve.”
With help from local Encinitas, CA foundation, Passion 4 K.I.D.S., founders Charles and Linda Van Kessler have been instrumental in getting the toddler’s story out to the media and for introducing Izaiah to the Project Walk program.
“We visited a lot of programs but saw him [Izaiah] make a real connection here [Project Walk],” says Linda Van Kessler. “We’ve seen what it has done for past [Project Walk] client and Passion 4 K.I.D.S. recipient, Patrick Ivison and now we have a new chapter in ‘Baby’ Izaiah.”
“Baby” Izaiah’s story continues to gain media attention as the toddler fights for a chance at normalcy. While still in his infancy stages of recovery, Project Walk is proud to be part of Izaiah’s journey.
For more information on Project Walk and its programs, please visit http://www.ProjectWalk.org
Izaiah’s story can also be found at http://www.Passion4Kids.org
Leah Malkinson, Project Walk Paralysis Recovery Center, http://www.ProjectWalk.org, 760.431.9789 Ext: 121, [email protected]
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