The Willis family is supported by BraunAbility and their local mobility dealer, Superior Van and Mobility, in Evansville, IN. When you purchase a mobility product from BraunAbility, you join a powerful community.
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Riley and Kennedy Willis are fraternal twins. Kennedy is the quietly determined one, while Riley is more boisterous. Their differences seem to bring out the best in each other, and each considers the other her best friend. Like so many twins, their bond is unbreakable.
The girls were delivered at just 28 weeks, and this came with added challenges, especially for Kennedy. She weighed just 1 lb., 4 oz., and eventually would be diagnosed with hemiplegic cerebral palsy, a neurological disorder that impairs motor function on one side of her body. She spent her first five months in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU).
When she turned five, Kennedy underwent spinal cord surgery, specifically selective dorsal rhizotomy. The procedure identifies nerves that may not be functioning properly and treats them to decrease involuntary muscle movement and stiffness and increase motor function.
Now, at the age of seven, she excels at school and loves to learn. Her surgery, coupled with consistent hard work, has allowed her to now walk 40 to 50 independent steps and travel even further with someone holding one of her hands.
It hasn’t always been easy, but Kennedy has that quiet determination coupled with a strong support system and her twin sister by her side. She is often shy at first, but once she gets comfortable, it’s difficult to slow her down, and each success only fuels her determination.
Finding a Better Mobility Solution
Still, car transportation brought challenges. While other kids her age could climb into their seats independently, Kennedy had to be carried to the car, picked up and placed into her car seat. Larger vehicles allowed more room for the family but also meant a higher lift for her parents. Over time, their stress grew, as did the strain on their backs, especially as Kennedy began to grow bigger. Kennedy’s physical progress was an important milestone, but her parents knew they needed to search for transportation solutions to grow with Kennedy’s independence.
Kennedy’s mother, Lindsey, spent evenings doing research and weighing their options. Mighty Miss Maya — a former micro-preemie living with CP — and her mom provided resources and a sense of community for Willis and similar families. One night, Willis was scrolling on Instagram and happened upon a new contest in partnership with BraunAbility and the Lenn Foundation, an organization devoted to providing resources to help families affected by disabilities afford therapy and equipment to improve their daily lives.
To celebrate its 50th anniversary, BraunAbility was donating four Turny Evo seats to help families who had a child living with cerebral palsy. The Turny Evo seat provides vehicle transfer assistance. It lowers to the user’s desired height, completely outside the vehicle, then lifts and swivels the user into the vehicle. The giveaway represented an opportunity for increased independence for Kennedy and decreased physical strain on her parents each time they went out. It could also be installed in the family’s Toyota Sienna minivan, one of the hundreds of vehicles compatible with the Turny Evo seat.
“I had zero expectations of winning. It was one of those late-night, half-awake mom moments. I knew it was worth a shot,” Willis said.
Independence With the Turny Evo Seat
Willis was shocked to get a call from BraunAbility a few weeks later, letting her know her family would be moving on to the next round of applicants.
She still downplayed any expectation of winning, which made the video conference call from the Lenn Foundation founders even more of a surprise. “When we learned we’d won, well, you could have told me I won the lottery,” Willis said.
A few months after the announcement, the Willis family had their Turny Evo seat installed in their minivan with the help of their local mobility dealer, Superior Van and Mobility in Evansville, Indiana. The mobility consultants at the dealership also instructed the family on how to use the seat.
“The seat is a great addition to our family. At first, Kennedy was nervous she was going to fall, as the seat lifted her out into the air. It took a little time to adjust, but she also loves to be independent,” Willis said. The family worked together to slowly increase Kennedy’s comfort level with the seat. Sister Riley would get in to demonstrate and help show that there was no need for concern.
Now, with the Turny Evo, getting everyone in and out of the car is much easier for the Willis family. “For me and for her, it is the best thing ever. When she can do things on her own, her confidence just soars,” Willis said.
As a mom, Willis is beyond proud, but she also knows firsthand that parenting a child living with a physical disability has its hard days. “I am so thankful that Kennedy’s surgery was an option, and I’m so grateful companies like BraunAbility offer specialized equipment that makes such a difference,” she said, noting improvements in her daughter’s comfort and mobility.
Willis hopes her daughter’s story can help lead others to medical and mobility solutions that are right for them. While the Turny Evo giveaway window has closed, the seating solution is available at local BraunAbility dealers across the United States and Canada.
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