South Elementary K-1

South Elementary student Decker Theis gave his schoolmates in Mrs. Rouillard first-grade class quite a thrill on Monday as he gave them a demonstration of his Trexo Robotics Exoskeleton system which helps children with disabilities walk at home or at other locations such as schools. Decker and his parents, Bailey and Justin Theis, often refer to the system as Decker’s “robot legs.”

To see a Facebook video that Bailey Theis put together about Decker's big day at South Elementary please click HERE!

“Decker was born profoundly premature as he made his arrival 14 weeks early,” Bailey Theis said. “He weighed just 2 lbs., 3 oz. at birth. Due to his prematurity, he has several health complications including cerebral palsy and epilepsy. Decker’s type of cerebral palsy is spastic quadriplegic cerebral palsy which causes his muscles to be very tight. This also makes them quite weak and his balance is also compromised.” 

Because of his condition, Decker relies on a wheelchair to get around during the school day. A few years ago, the Theis family learned about the Trexo Robotics system by following another medically-complex family online where they shared their story about the technology. 

“We did tons of research and decided to make the investment,” Bailey said. “As of last year at an event we attended, we learned that Decker was one of only five Trexo users in Minnesota.

“Our bodies are made to move and we think everyone deserves a chance to walk. For Decker, walking just has to be done in a different way and with a bit more support. The benefits of walking with his robot legs include better range of motion, building strength in his legs/core/neck muscles, increased bone density, maintaining hip alignment, and better GI motility. We take for granted how much walking improves our overall health!” 

Seeing Decker standing eye to eye with his peers and leading them on a walk down the hall and around the school was incredibly moving for his parents.

“I wept the whole way home,” Bailey Theis said. “We were once told ‘he will never walk and probably never talk’ but he’s doing things his own way and showing everyone that anything is possible. We could see all over Decker’s face how proud he was. When we talked with him about it after school he was squealing with excitement.

“The sweet kids in his class were so encouraging and cheering him on. They also had great questions when we did our Q&A afterward. My favorite being, ‘if we want to go to come over to Decker’s house to play, what are the best options?’ So I think Decker will have a few more play dates in his future. It’s fun to see the relationships he has built in school.”

Above and below are some photo highlights of the big day include the first photo below of Decker and his classmates in Ms. Rouillard's first grade class at South Elementary.