Boy with cerebral palsy takes 1st steps without helping hands — thanks to a robotic walker

Rachel Brown didn't know if she'd ever see her five-year-old with cerebral palsy walk without someone else's help.

But about two months ago, Leo Crogger took his first steps far from any helping hands.

Leo is one of 10 children with cerebral palsy between the ages of 3 and 6 years old who are part of a new study at Holland Bloorview, the country's largest children's rehabilitation hospital and research centre.  The study gave him the opportunity to walk with the help of a kind of robotic walker or exoskeleton that moves his legs for him, known as a Trexo device.

Seeing a video of her son walk was an emotional moment for Brown.

"We certainly cried," she said, adding she quickly sent the video to family members so they could see his progress.

Leo had had the chance to use the Trexo device acquired by Holland Bloorview in multiple week sessions with a research team earlier this year. The researchers say the first-of-its-kind trial is looking at how the device could be used outside the hospital setting to enhance the lives of children like Leo.

Brown says she could tell her son was happy using the robotic walker.

"I can tell from just the kind of mannerisms and his kind of sunny disposition when he's in it," she said.

But Leo's progress using the Trexo didn't end there.

A few weeks later, Brown had the chance to see him kick a ball and hold objects while walking, something normally very difficult for him to coordinate, she said. 

She says he was able to participate in activities in a gym that he had never before been able to, leaving her hopeful he may be able to do more with his peers than she thought possible.

Stephanie Bradley, a PhD candidate at the University of Toronto working on the study, says even though it only began in March, the findings so far are overwhelmingly positive.

"These kids, they're excited for every single physiotherapy session," she said.

She says children are also communicating more and experiencing joy, she said.