March 2, 2025
By Toby Scofield

As a young child, Brooklyn Rodda spent years battling unexplained leg pain while doctors dismissed her symptoms. It wasn’t until she turned six — when frequent falls and a severe limp that hindered her mobility — that she was diagnosed with cerebral palsy.

Cerebral palsy is a blanket term for a group of neurological disorders that affect a person’s ability to move. The condition is caused by an injury to the developing brain during pregnancy or shortly after birth. Brooklyn’s specific diagnosis is Bilateral Hemiplegic Cerebral Palsy, meaning both sides of her body are affected.

Following her diagnosis, Brooklyn began extensive physical therapy and underwent a major surgery that required her to spend six weeks in the hospital relearning how to walk. Although she grew stronger, she continued to face challenges, including foot drop — difficulty lifting the front part of the foot — a pronounced limp, frequent falls and the emotional toll of feeling “different” at school.

Then Brooklyn was introduced to the Bioness L300 Go, a cuff worn just below the knee that externally stimulates the leg muscles.

“The muscle targeted by her device controls the lifting of her foot when walking, which helps prevent it from dragging,” explained her mom, Kelsey. “It also keeps her foot from turning inward.”

The results were immediate. Within minutes of putting the devices on, Brooklyn was running laps around the gym at her physical therapy office. That same week, she signed up for soccer.

Since then, she has participated in basketball, started boxing at TITLE Boxing Club, and participated in the Special Olympics. She plans to try out for Pickerington Central’s volleyball team next season. She is currently 14 and a freshman.

“I wear them when I go to school, for boxing or sports, or when I walk a lot,” Brooklyn said. “They are easy to put on and take off and have controls so I can increase or decrease the power if I need to.

Without my devices I fall a lot. Sometimes the falls have caused me to injure my foot, legs or back. With my devices I hardly ever fall. I would recommend it because it was life changing for me and can help others in so many ways.”

Bioness products have helped people with various paralysis-related conditions regain use of their limbs. However, most insurance companies do not cover the cost — approximately $5,500 per leg.

Brooklyn received her devices through a generous donation from the J. Ryan Foundation’s Strides of Hope initiative. The Columbus-based foundation’s mission is “to provide support and resources for individuals affected by neurological disorders” and to ensure that everyone has access to the assisted walking devices they need to improve their quality of life and regain hope when it’s needed most.

Founder Joe Ryan personally benefited from a mobility cuff and wanted others to have the same opportunity.

“I was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis in 2016,” Ryan shared. “Through the generosity of my family, I was able to obtain an assisted walking device, the Bioness L300, that changed my life. The L300 gave me hope that I could improve my condition, and through hard work and determination I have. It still stinks — just not as bad.”

Ryan created a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization to raise funds.

“The obvious benefit of a 501(c)(3) is that all donations are tax deductible, and secondly, we can expand our fundraising opportunities,” Ryan said. “One hundred percent of all money donated assists others who are in desperate need of hope.”

Brooklyn was the first person to receive the devices through a private donation from the foundation. Last year, Bioness recognized Ryan at its annual conference in Miami and flew Brooklyn there to surprise him.

“Watching Brooklyn speak in front of a crowd was one of the most exciting moments,” Kelsey said. “As her mom, I couldn’t be more proud of what this kid has been able to overcome and accomplish.”

“It was life changing for me and can help others in so many ways,” Brooklyn added. “I was able to be there when another little girl got her first devices to help her walk, and I got to talk to her about my experience.

I love sharing information about my Bioness devices at school. I show my friends what a big difference my walking looks like when I have my devices versus when I do not, and they are always amazed.”

To learn more about Bioness Medical, visit bionessmobility.com. For information about Strides of Hope, including how to donate, visit jryanfoundation.org.