Seven-Year-Old Uses Robotic Legs to Take First Steps in Victoria

Seven-year-old Elliot Parent from British Columbia experienced a significant milestone recently when he took his first steps using robotic legs at the Kids Physio Group in Victoria. Living with cerebral palsy and quadriplegia, Elliot has relied on a manual walker, but the effort often discourages him from practicing. On this particular day, however, the robotic device provided an empowering opportunity for him to walk over ground.

Elliot’s achievement was made possible through the innovative technology developed by Trexo Robotics, a company founded in 2011 in Mississauga. The device gives children with disabilities the support they need to walk safely and comfortably. As Elliot strapped into the robotic legs, his mother, Genevieve Parent, watched proudly, noting how the experience transformed her son’s usual reluctance into enthusiasm.

The Trexo device has made a substantial impact on the lives of children across North America. To date, users have collectively logged more than 126 million steps, a distance equivalent to circling the globe five times. For Elliot, these steps symbolize not just numbers but the realization of a dream to stand tall. Genevieve expressed her joy, stating, “This sort of forces him to do that walking and engage those steps versus doing it in a walker by himself.”

Emotional Connections and Community Impact

Events like the one in Victoria hold deep emotional significance for families and the Trexo team alike. Marc Robert, a sales specialist with Trexo, has a personal connection to the technology, as his own son has been using the device for six years. Before the introduction of robotic legs, Robert spent countless hours moving his son’s legs in walking patterns, hoping to encourage him to walk independently. “I cried my eyes out basically the first time I saw him walk,” Robert recalled. “To be able to give that to other families was the whole reason I got with this in the first place.”

At events like these, the atmosphere is often filled with tears of joy, as families witness their children walking for the first time. Robert noted that it is incredibly rewarding to see the impact of their technology on so many lives.

Barriers to Access and Future Possibilities

Despite its potential, the Trexo device comes with a significant price tag of around $35,000, which is not covered by public health systems. This financial barrier emphasizes the importance of outreach events like the one in Victoria, allowing families to explore options that could improve their children’s mobility.

Genevieve and Elliot left the event filled with hope and inspiration. “Tall like a tree,” Genevieve said, echoing a phrase she often uses during horseback therapy with her son. On this occasion, it symbolized not just a metaphor but a tangible achievement as Elliot stood proudly on his own robotic legs, ready to embrace a world of possibilities.