Winter Rides with Confidence
Thanks to a new therapeutic bike from Variety, Winter is building the strength, balance, and confidence she needs to walk.
Medical Equipment
More Than a Bed
Variety Kid Lincoln recently received a piece of a medical equipment that does it all – keeps him safe, gives him a place to place to play, helps his family take care of him, and provides a comfy space for a good night’s sleep. This all-purpose piece of equipment? A safety bed. This bed is …
Erica the Explorer
As spring draws near and the weather starts to get warmer, people are starting to get outside. Whether by foot or by bike, many are hitting the trails to enjoy the sunshine and fresh air. Until recently, however, this wasn’t an option for Variety Teen Erica. Erica uses a wheelchair to get around. Her wheelchair …
Jada’s Every Day PossAbilities
Doctors used to tell Jada’s mom, Candice, that Jada would be a “lay baby.” By that, they meant she would do little more than lay on the floor due to her diagnosis of cerebral palsy. To that, Candice had one word – “No!” She refused to believe that her daughter couldn’t be something more. Today, …
Sadie Keeps Up with Friends
For five-year-old Sadie, there is nothing more frustrating than always being tagged “It” first in a game of tag on the playground. Sadie has mild cerebral palsy, which causes high tone in her legs and can make it difficult for her to keep up with her friends. But not anymore! Sadie recently received a new …
Ryan Stands Up to Learn
For a long time, Variety Kid Ryan wasn’t able to use the smartboard in his classroom. The manual wheelchair he was using sat at a height too low to reach the board, limiting his participation in classroom activities. But, a few months ago, Ryan received his very first power wheelchair with help from Variety St. …
Joseph Grows into New Legs
Variety Kid Joseph just won’t stop growing! At almost three years old, he keeps getting taller and stronger every day. But that means he also keeps growing out of the prosthetic legs that make it possible for him to walk, play and, most importantly, be as independent as possible. When Joseph’s prosthetics get too small, …
Tobias Has a Place of His Own
Variety Kid Tobias now has a place in his house he can call his very own, thanks to Variety and our supporters! This new spot is a Leckey Pal Chair, which is giving him the stability and comfort he needs to independently work and play. “This chair helps Tobias so much,” says Cindi, Tobias’ mom. …
Freedom for JJ
For a long time, Variety Kid Jeffery (aka JJ) felt like he was missing out on a big part of childhood – riding a bike. Traditional bikes and tricycles are not accessible for JJ and his needs, so he has never owned a bike of his very own. At Bikes for Kids in November of …
Thankful for New Allies
Variety is thrilled to announce new partnerships with the Developmental Disabilities Resource Board of St. Charles County, Productive Living Board of St. Louis County, and The St. Louis Office for Developmental Disability Resources to provide adaptive equipment and assistive technology to children with developmental disabilities! These public taxing entities, commonly known as “Senate Bill 40 …
The Jefferson Foundation Gives the Gift of Equipment
Earlier this month, the Jefferson Foundation announced the recipients of their second round of grants for 2021. The Foundation awarded 79 grants to 76 organizations, totaling more than $2.6 million in funds. We are pleased to announce that Variety the Children’s Charity of St. Louis is the recipient of one of these generous grants! Variety …
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Tennyson’s Helpful Helmet
Tennyson is a big fan of the St. Louis Blues. And with his new helmet, he even looks like a super cool hockey player! This helmet is important to Tennyson’s health as he grows. He was born with torticollis, which means his head twists to one side. Because of this, he sleeps flat on his …
Hope for Fiona
Meet Fiona. She is eight years old and loves to laugh, ride her bike, and listen to Taylor Swift. Looking at her now, can you believe that she was given just a one percent chance to live to be six months old? Before Fiona was even born, doctors told her parents that, if she did …
Christian Communicates
Variety Kid Christian may not speak verbally, but that doesn’t mean he can’t communicate in his own way. His communication device is his voice, and he takes it wherever he goes. This device is operated using gaze nystagmus, which means that Christian moves his eyes to activiate it and express himself. This also means that …
Oh the Places DeMarko Will Go
At 19 years old, there are many places Variety Teen DeMarko has never had the chance to visit before. He has limited mobility and uses a wheelchair to get where he needs to go, but loading up in the family van has proved a challenge that bars him from truly accessing his world. To get …
Sophia’s Safe Space
Just like many kids her age, when Variety Kid Sophia is looking to relax and wind down, she heads to her room to hang out on her bed. At night, she happily snuggles up for sweet dreams and sound sleep. But this hasn’t always been a reality for her. Until just a few months ago, …
Maddison Receives a Life-Changing Van
Variety Teen Maddison and her family recently received a life-changing gift from Variety – an adaptive van. This van is making it possible for her to travel safely and comfortably, something that may seem simple, but is making a big difference. Visiting fun places like the mall or the park has long been out of …
Back to School with Camryn
The last time Camryn, who is 11 years old, attended in-person school was in first grade. In 2017, he was diagnosed with a neurological disorder that caused him to lose his vision as well as his ability to walk and speak independently. Since then, he has not been stable enough to go to school – …
Zion’s Super Cool Ride
When Variety Kid Zion cycles through his neighborhood on his daily adaptive bike ride, the air is filled with shouts of “I like your bike!” and “Cool ride!” He smiles, laughs, and rides on, proud that he is finally riding a super cool bike of his own. You see, Zion hasn’t always been able to …
Wyatt’s Back to School Supplies
When Variety Kid Wyatt started middle school this year, he had many supplies on-hand, including pencils, books, a backpack, and more. He also started the year with a new tool – an insulin pump – and, with it, a new sense of freedom. In May, Wyatt was diagnosed with diabetes. And with this diagnosis came …