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, visual impairment, and epilepsy, his mind and personality were as bright and curious as any typical boy.
When Remi turned three, his family encountered a difficult reality: early intervention programs could no longer provide assistance, and they didn’t qualify for state aid. They had to find a way to give their son the tools necessary to engage with his world and thrive.
The financial strain deepened when Remi needed major orthopedic surgery to realign his hips. Medical insurance covered just a limited number of therapy sessions, most of which were already used for Remi’s everyday needs.
“I think a big misconception is that if you have private insurance, everything’s taken care of. That’s often not the case,” Sarah explains.
“Insurance is set up for patients without additional needs. We’d advocate for Remi, but it was falling on deaf ears… until we found Variety St. Louis.”
Variety was able to provide the extra therapy visits Remi needed post-surgery, accelerating his recovery from what could have been a year-long setback to just six months. He returned stronger, once again using his gait trainer and standing proudly.
The support from Variety didn’t stop there. When Remi later suffered a femur fracture at age four, Variety stepped in once again, helping him bounce back faster than expected. But it wasn’t just therapy that made a difference—Variety’s medical equipment program provided critical tools for Remi to communicate.
With his motor skills limited, Remi uses an eye-gaze communication device called the Tobii, where he looks at a screen to provide a verbal response. However, insurance wouldn’t cover the stand Remi needed to use the device at school or out in the community.
Now- with a chair mount provided by Variety- Remi can socialize more and always be included in conversation. “Variety was a light in a dark time,” Blake reflects. “They helped us see Remi’s personality shine through in ways we couldn’t before.”
Beyond physical progress, therapy and adaptive equipment have helped Remi build confidence and independence. He loves cheeseburgers, playing fetch with his dog, and being social, engaging with classmates and family in ways that wouldn’t have been possible without the right support.
“These are things we wouldn’t have known about Remi without the Tobii or therapy. It’s how we discovered his sense of humor,” expresses Sarah.
Remi’s journey is far from over, but with the continued help of Variety, he’s becoming more independent every day—confidently navigating life, chasing his peers, and shining in his own unique way.