New Technological Devices Come to the Rescue for Mom, Daughter

"It’s a struggle but we want to keep her home with us". Thank-you IndeeLift.

Rockford, Illinois — Lying on the floor, Melissa Newman plays with her toys. She delights touching the colorful shapes and hearing the busy sounds of her LeapFrog pad. She listens to the songs and laughs. Melissa is healthy and happy but has to do most things a little bit differently than other 35-year-old women. When she is ready to get up from the floor, her mother scoots over a mobile lifting device and slides Melissa on. Though Melissa is small-framed, it is harder for her mom, Diane, to physically move her these days.

“It’s a struggle but we want to keep her home with us,” said Diane. “It’s a hard job to deal with special needs kids. Either you can do it or you can’t do it. Some people love it and are great at it.”

Melissa has severe Cerebral Palsy. She is low functioning and has frequent seizures. She has trouble with mobility, but with her family’s help and available new technology, she gets around and about easier.

Melissa’s day is full of activity and she is surrounded by an adoring family. She goes swimming and to a day training center. She loves listening to John Mellencamp songs and playing with her favorite toys. She also loves when her brother Kyle and nephew Kowen visit and bring their Burmese mountain dogs.

Melissa’s lifting device looks like a mini forklift but for humans. A device made by the company IndeeLift Inc. The device can be operated by her mom, who is her full-time caretaker after Melissa is placed onto the beveled seat. Her mom then presses a button to activate the electronic mechanism that lifts Melissa slowly and safely.

With the mobility device, Melissa moves down to the floor to play and back up into a chair or her bed. This helps save the strength of the person who helps her.