Hope in Every Step Three-year-old Danielle Rey adores all things pink and lights up with her love for Taylor Swift. Yet behind her vibrant spirit lies a challenging medical journey that has already seen her endure two six-month hospital stays. Danielle Rey has Mowat-Wilson Syndrome, Hirschsprung’s Disease, congenital heart issues, and more. She requires round-the-clock …
Transforming Uncertainty into Independence For 90 years, Variety St. Louis has impacted thousands of local children with special needs, empowering them with the tools to unlock their full potential. With access to vital medical equipment, therapies, and socialization opportunities, Variety Kids’ possibilities are reimagined. After spending her childhood with the Variety family, 21-year-old Veronica is …
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Resilient Remi When Sarah and Blake welcomed their son, Remington, they expected a smooth, healthy journey ahead. Despite an uncomplicated pregnancy, everything changed when Remi began having seizures shortly after birth, resulting in a 45-day stay in the NICU. As Remi grew, it became clear that while his body faced obstacles due to cerebral palsy, …
Restoring Lillie’s Mobility Variety’s Medical Equipment & Assistive Technology program empowers local kids and teens with the tools to safely navigate and fully participate in their worlds. When a car accident took away a crucial piece of Lillie’s accessibility, her family didn’t know where to turn to help her access the community again. Mom Amber …
Easton’s story beautifully illustrates the transformative impact of Variety’s My Voice® program. Watch his journey below and see how this vital assistive technology empowers Easton to share his unique voice with the world. Empowering Variety Kids Through Communication Imagine being unable to communicate verbally – how would this impact your daily life? Many children with …
Unleashing Hudson’s Full Potential Nine-year-old Hudson showcases the transformative impact that takes place when children with special needs gain access to the right programs and opportunities. Born with a brain injury that led to a diagnosis of cerebral palsy, Hudson has faced significant challenges from the very start. Spending 28 days in the NICU and …
Easton’s Speech-tacular Success Communication tools are critical for local children and teens with special needs, empowering them with the resources to connect with the world around them. Children who have difficulty communicating verbally significantly benefit from speech therapy and Augmented Alternative Communication (AAC) devices. However, despite their importance, many families face barriers in accessing these …
Paxton’s Path to Independence At five years old, Paxton’s smile serves as his superpower, radiating joy despite facing intense challenges starting at the very beginning of his life. Born weighing just 5 lbs. 3 oz at full term, Paxton was immediately admitted into the NICU. Just three weeks later, he battled sepsis and was hospitalized …
In a world where communication is often taken for granted, Variety gives local kids and teens the tools to fully express themselves. Seven-year-old Clarkson faces verbal communication barriers, but with speech therapy and the aid of a communication device, he now shares thoughts and feelings proudly. Clarkson’s whole world changed when his speech therapist recommended …
Since being diagnosed with a rare genetic disorder that affects the central nervous system, seven-year-old Ezra has faced significant barriers that have limited his mobility. Maneuvering his manual wheelchair has been a challenge, forcing Ezra to rely on others to navigate his surroundings. When Ezra’s family connected with Variety, it marked a pivotal moment, not …
Madi Navigates Her Next Chapter For 90 years, Variety has empowered kids with the life-changing tools to thrive during childhood and beyond. Before Madi and her family found Variety, they exemplified the struggles faced by thousands of families desperately searching for solutions to address their child’s basic needs. Madi’s family faced impossible choices, and since …
Variety Teen Jian Jian’s Drive for Independence Eighteen-year-old Jian Jian is a testament to the power of Variety when paired with unwavering determination. For 90 years, Variety has removed barriers that prevent kids and teens from pursuing their passions and shaping their futures. With Variety’s help, Jian Jian is now armed with the tools to …
Variety Alum Sarah Advocates for Inclusion For 90 years, Variety St. Louis has been empowering kids with the tools to improve skills, confidence, and independence throughout childhood in preparation for a successful transition into adulthood. No one embodies that spirit more than Variety Alum Sarah Schwegel, an Occupational Therapist Doctorate candidate, fierce advocate of disability …
Bikes for Kids 2023: A Ticket to Adventure “Once again, Variety is making the impossible, possible.” Families could not contain their enthusiasm as more than 200 local children received the gift of a new bike at Variety’s annual Bikes for Kids event on November 18 at Parkway Central High School. Bikes give children the freedom …
Just three days after receiving her hearing aid from Variety, Lily’s speech had already begun to improve. Now she is attempting to articulate more words than ever and can’t stop singing “Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star.” But words haven’t always come so easily for Lily. At a very young age, Lily experienced a significant amount of …
Introducing My Voice®! Imagine being unable to let your loved ones know that you are hungry, in pain, or that you love them. A new, innovative program from Variety St. Louis eases such concerns and literally gives children a voice. Variety’s new initiative addresses the frustration, isolation, and helplessness felt by children who are unable …
Krishna is On the Move When Krishna’s family moved to the United States from India in 2006, everything was new – their home, language, resources, and community. They came prepared to welcome their newborn daughter into this new life. While they expected challenges, they were completely unprepared for the complications that arose in the first …
Russell is One in Seven Billion Like many mothers, when Jessica held her newborn son in her arms for the first time, she knew she was holding a miracle. He seemed like one in a million. What she didn’t know was that her little miracle defied much longer odds than that. Within days of Russell’s …
Emmett Walks with His Brothers! Most four-year-old kids are naturally inclined to explore every inch of the world around them. But for some kids, like Emmett, physical challenges make walking, climbing, and playing with siblings less attainable. Luckily, Variety was able to provide Emmett with daytime and nighttime orthotics in partnership with the St. …
Colton’s Accessible World When Colton was born, doctors told his mother, Latrice, that she should not expect him to live longer than a year. But Latrice was not willing to accept that. For the first few years of his life, Colton spent most of his time in hospitals and at doctor appointments to address his …
