When Debby Elnatan learned that her young son, Rotem, had cerebral palsy and might never walk, she refused to believe that his world had to be defined by limitations.

👶 Born prematurely at 32 weeks, Rotem was diagnosed with cerebral palsy. By the time he was two, medical professionals told Debby that he had very little awareness of his legs and would likely spend his life using a wheelchair.

But Debby, an Israeli music therapist, chose to focus on what her son could experience rather than what he might never be able to do.

💙 Driven by what she later described as “pain and desperation,” Debby began helping Rotem walk day after day. She supported his body, guided his movements, and gave him something simple but meaningful: the chance to experience what it felt like to stand and move alongside his mother.

From those moments came an idea that would eventually change many other families’ lives.

👣 Debby developed a support system that could allow a child with mobility challenges to stand upright and take steps together with a parent or caregiver. That idea became the Upsee, a three-part mobility system made up of an adult hip belt, a child harness, and specially designed shared sandals.

The child is secured to the adult through the harness, while the linked sandals allow them to move their feet together. The adult provides balance and support, while the child’s hands remain free to play, reach, explore, and interact with the world.

🌎 The concept was later refined and brought to market by Northern Irish company Leckey through its Firefly brand. After trials in the United Kingdom, the United States, and Canada, the Upsee was launched internationally around 2014 and has since been used by families in more than 100 countries.

🤗 For Rotem, the device offered something deeply meaningful: the opportunity to stand, move, and share ordinary childhood moments with his family. He could interact with his siblings and experience the simple joy of being at their level—even though he ultimately did not become an independent walker.

For other children with cerebral palsy and similar motor impairments, the Upsee has provided opportunities to participate in activities that can otherwise be difficult, from kicking a ball and dancing to walking down an aisle or simply exploring the world beside a parent.

✨ Therapists emphasize that the device is not a clinical therapy and cannot guarantee that a child will eventually walk independently. However, supported standing and movement can provide opportunities for physical activity, social participation, confidence, and meaningful family experiences.

💗 What began as one mother’s determination to give her son more possibilities became an invention that opened new doors for families around the world.

Debby Elnatan could not change Rotem’s diagnosis—but she found a way to change what was possible within it.

👣 And sometimes, giving a child the chance to take a step beside someone they love can be a milestone all its own.