Harness of Hope: One Mom's Incredible Invention



When Debby Elnatan was told by doctors that her 2-year-old son Rotem had no awareness of his legs and didn’t even know what they were, she was stunned. Unwilling to settle for their prediction that he would spend his life confined to a wheelchair, Debby started walking with Rotem that day. It turned out to be a very strenuous task for both Debby and her son. Yet, out of her pain and desperation came the idea for a device she named the Upsee. The Upsee allows infants and small children to stand and achieve repetitive walking training with the support of an adult. It includes a harness for the child — which attaches to a belt worn by an adult — and specially-engineered sandals that allow the parent and child to step simultaneously, leaving their hands free for play and other tasks. The Upsee miracle harness lets disabled children stand, walk, and even kick for the first time in their lives. The product is being sold today in the United States, United Kingdom and Canada and has experienced great success. The Upsee is manufactured by the Irish company Leckey. It fits kids from 3 to 8 years old and sells for $650 with free shipping on the company’s website.