Brittany Neal, a dedicated foster and adoptive mother from North Canton, Ohio, has turned her inspiration from her daughter Stormi into a meaningful project. After facing the challenges of infertility, Brittany found purpose in fostering children in need, particularly after learning about the struggles of many foster children at Akron Children’s Hospital, where she works as an EKG technician.<\/p>\n
Her youngest daughter, Stormi, who is 3 1\/2 years old, has Bainbridge-Ropers Syndrome, a rare genetic condition that affects fewer than 300 individuals globally, including Stormi’s biological mother. Stormi also faces challenges linked to autism and has a bone age that lags behind her actual age. While Stormi has a wheelchair, it was a 3D-printed mobility trainer that enabled her to gain independence and move around her home on her own.<\/p>\n
Motivated by this newfound independence, Brittany founded Stormi’s Mobility Project. The initiative focuses on creating affordable, 3D-printed mobility chairs for children with disabilities, especially for those whose families can’t afford to buy them or have trouble getting insurance approval. Each chair costs around $200 and takes about a month to create, with no charge to the families receiving them.<\/p>\n
Neal pointed out the challenges families face when trying to obtain necessary equipment for children with complex needs, particularly in light of Medicaid’s decreasing coverage. She connects these families with Stark County’s Help Me Grow program to provide additional support. To date, she has built four mobility chairs through community donations, including an anonymous contribution and one sponsored by her grandmother.<\/p>\n
Despite the hardships, Stormi is flourishing, described by her mother as "the happiest little girl" who brings joy and light to those around her. Last August, Brittany adopted Stormi, and she is currently in the process of adopting Stormi’s older half-sister, Madison.<\/p>\n
Brittany\u2019s journey has also been one of personal growth; she has overcome mental health struggles and addiction, achieving nearly nine years of sobriety. Through her project, she aims to inspire others facing difficulties, sharing the message that life can improve with perseverance.<\/p>\n
Families interested in engaging with Stormi’s Mobility Project can reach out through Stark County’s Help Me Grow program. For those looking to donate or learn more, additional information can be found on the project’s Facebook page.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Brittany Neal, a dedicated foster and adoptive mother from North Canton, Ohio, has turned her inspiration from her daughter Stormi into a meaningful project. After facing the challenges of infertility, Brittany found purpose in fostering children in need, particularly after learning about the struggles of many foster children at Akron Children’s Hospital, where she works […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":0,"featured_media":1636,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1635","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"yoast_head":"\n