Red Star Riders

Tuesday night, I was pouting in line at Toys-R-Us as Dennis and I were checking out Santa goodies for the girls, including, a big girl bike for Rylee. My heart was breaking for Jocelyn with sympathetic envy: her little sister will have a bike under the tree from Santa, and thanks to Rett Syndrome, Jocelyn will not. Fellow Rett parents agree, Christmas is so bitter sweet for us. Wednesday I posted on a Rett FB page, looking for suggestions for a special bike for Jo, or just SOMETHING reasonable, fun and big... ("Special needs" bikes are anywhere from $1,400 to $12,000- not something we have just laying around.) A fellow Rett parent informed me of a non-profit organization, Red Star Riders, who help special needs kids get bikes! I gave it a shot and e-mailed our story. Yesterday morning, we received a phone call, asking if we could be at Children's Hospital in LA at 1pm for a bike fitting! The therapists with Red Star Riders loved Jocelyn's story and want to help her have a bike, next to her sister's on Christmas morning! Jo and I went right down and were greeted by a team of therapists who worked for over an hour with us, designing a bike that would suit Jocelyn best. And get this: JOCELYN WAS PEDDLING BY HERSELF! The smiles say it all! My pouting Tuesday night has turned into sobbing grateful tears that wont stop! I told Jocelyn that it wasn't for sure, Santa just asked these nice ladies for help designing a bike, in case his elves had time to make one for her. We made a donation towards her bike of what we could and Red Star Riders are striving to fundraise the rest for us! Such incredible people, such a humbling experience! This has been an absolute answer to my broken hearted prayers! It still isn't 100% Jo will have the bike by Christmas, as time is running out AND we have to assemble it ourselves, or find a bike shop to help us. BUT: Thanks to Red Star Riders, Jocelyn has a CHANCE!

-Elizabeth Jones | Apple Valley, CA