Standing tall

For three-year-old Jack, a bright and curious little boy, sitting upright used to be the hardest part of his day. Now, thanks to help from Satan’s Little Helper, he’s able to do that with ease – and more!

While other kids at kindy were stacking blocks, singing songs, or listening during circle time, Jack was working overtime – just trying to stay upright. Not because he wasn’t interested, or because he didn’t want to join in, but because keeping his trunk stable took everything he had.

“Jack is the definition of a trooper,” says his mum, Jenny. “When he was born, he didn’t breathe right away and was placed on breathing support in the Special Care Baby Unit.

“As Jack has grown, he has needed extra support to communicate and develop his gross motor skills. Frustratingly, the cause of this is still unknown – but, thankfully, he can talk using a combination of sign language and words!”

Specialised support

When Jenny reached out to Satan’s Little Helper and told us how much a specialised piece of equipment called a ‘Stabilising Pressure Input Orthosis (SPIO) vest’ would help Jack, we jumped at the chance to make sure he got one.

The SPIO is a specially designed compression garment, which helps children with neuromuscular challenges by supporting their posture, improving body awareness and giving their trunk the stability it needs. For Jack, the difference was immediate.

“The first time he wore it, we saw a shift,” says Jenny. “It meant Jack could focus on playing, not just sitting. It gave him the chance to join in without getting exhausted.”

Before the vest, every little task took huge effort. Now? He’s more engaged, more confident, and standing taller – literally and figuratively.

Sitting up tall

“His kindy teachers even joked, ‘Who is this tall boy?’” Jenny says. “The vest helps him sit up straighter and you can just see how much more present he feels.”

What looks like a simple piece of clothing has become Jack’s secret weapon. It’s given him more than just postural support – it’s given him freedom. The freedom to move, play and be part of the world around him in a way that doesn’t wear him down.

Making a difference

But for families like Jack’s, equipment like this isn’t always easy to access.

“Things like the SPIO vest come with a price tag,” Jenny explains. “And when you’re already dealing with therapy costs and appointments, it adds up fast. Having Satan’s Little Helper support to afford this has been huge for us. We couldn’t have done it alone.”

The support turned what could have been just another ‘maybe one day' into a powerful tool Jack uses every single day.

He still faces challenges– but now he faces them from a stronger, steadier place , physically and emotionally.

“He’s got this new sense of confidence,” says Jenny. “He doesn’t get as frustrated. He feels much more capable, which is so good to see!”