Success Stories
Sasha
Fashion Designer Sasha Is Back to Hitting the Runway
As told my her mom, Isabell
Her Story
At birth, Sasha (now 13) was diagnosed with cerebral palsy and seizure disorder. As a result, she underwent multiple surgeries during her first eight years of life. At 18 months old, she started wearing an uncomfortable ankle-foot orthosis (AFO) to get around and also had to rely on wheelchairs.
It was hard to see Sasha struggle to do the activities she loved, like horseback riding and rock climbing. Being the fashionista she is, Sasha also found it hard to wear the shoes she wanted because very few would fit with her brace. This was tough for me, because I knew there was nothing we could do; we had to stick with what was working at the time.
Her Solution
A Fan of Fashion
Following one of her surgeries, I had the thought to give Sasha an old pair of jeans to paint, as I had a ton of denim in my closet. I simply hoped that they would keep her occupied and engaged; I never imagined what would happen next.
It turns out that Sasha has a knack for painting. I loved how the painted jeans looked, so I decided to wear them when I went out and at work—and people took notice. I saw how well the painted jeans were received by others, and people even thought they were designer clothing. That’s when I got a wild idea.
When Sasha was 8 years old, we decided to start The Sasha Project LA. It is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit charitable organization dedicated to raising awareness and funds for The Mark Taper – Johnny Mercer Artists Program at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, to help patients heal through art. Our mission and Sasha’s artwork even caught the attention of Levi’s, which sponsored her for a fashion show hosted by Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals in 2018. During that event, she was introduced to celebrities such as Paris Hilton and Jessica Biel.
Her Next Steps
A Fan of Fashion
Following one of her surgeries, I had the thought to give Sasha an old pair of jeans to paint, as I had a ton of denim in my closet. I simply hoped that they would keep her occupied and engaged; I never imagined what would happen next.
It turns out that Sasha has a knack for painting. I loved how the painted jeans looked, so I decided to wear them when I went out and at work—and people took notice. I saw how well the painted jeans were received by others, and people even thought they were designer clothing. That’s when I got a wild idea.
When Sasha was 8 years old, we decided to start The Sasha Project LA. It is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit charitable organization dedicated to raising awareness and funds for The Mark Taper – Johnny Mercer Artists Program at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, to help patients heal through art. Our mission and Sasha’s artwork even caught the attention of Levi’s, which sponsored her for a fashion show hosted by Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals in 2018. During that event, she was introduced to celebrities such as Paris Hilton and Jessica Biel.
An Exciting New Chapter
During this time, Sasha was still trying to get around with her uncomfortable AFO. However, two years ago, we were reintroduced to the L300 Go to help with her foot drop. Although I was skeptical at first, we decided to give the device a try. We have been amazed by the results. The L300 Go has been incredible for Sasha; she no longer feels discomfort and can freely participate in the activities she loves.
As a mother, it’s wonderful to see that she has found a treatment option that is right for her. Although it might seem simple, it makes me happy to know that Sasha can now wear whatever type of shoe she wants, because using the L300 Go means she no longer feels any discomfort or irritation from footwear. School has gotten easier for her, too, and she now walks with a much smoother movement. The L300 Go truly has been a life-changing device for Sasha and our family.
Hitting the Runway
March 2022 was so exciting! Sasha participated in a fashion show called the Runway of Dreams LA Fashion Revolution. She walked the runway with more than 70 models who have disabilities, all of them wearing mainstream adaptive clothing. Sasha was proud and excited to be represented by Target®.
Sasha’s L300 Go also was front and center, allowing her. to wear her favorite Converse® sneakers. The show was a huge success and we look forward to future events—we may even have an exciting, new footwear collaboration coming up! With Sasha’s newfound mobility, we look forward to summer and trying outdoor activities that were not possible before the L300 Go!
Contact us to schedule a demo with L300 Go or if you have questions about other Bioness products.
Indication for Use: The L300 Go System is intended to provide ankle dorsiflexion in adult and pediatric individuals with foot drop and/or to assist knee flexion or extension in adult individuals with muscle weakness related to upper motor neuron disease/injury (e.g., stroke, damage to pathways to the spinal cord). The L300 Go System electrically stimulates muscles in the affected leg to provide ankle dorsiflexion of the foot and/or knee flexion or extension; thus, it also may improve the individual’s gait.
The L300 Go System may also facilitate muscle re-education, prevent/retard disuse atrophy, maintain or increase joint range of motion, and increase local blood flow.
L300 Go is is contraindicated in patients with a demand-type cardiac pacemaker, defibrillator or any electrical implant. Do not use the system on a leg where metallic implant is directly underneath the electrodes, a cancerous lesion is present or suspected, or on a leg with regional disorder (e.g., fracture or dislocation) which could be adversely affected by motion from the stimulation. Use caution in patients with diagnosed or suspected cardiac problems or epilepsy. Full prescribing information can be found in product labeling or at: www.bionessrehab.com/l300/safety-information.
