Michigan 9-year-old Zoey Harrison loved playing at recess like the other children in her school, but being in a wheelchair made getting bundled up a bit time-consuming.
Zoey, who was born with cerebral palsy, told WZZM that it took up almost all of her time to play.
She also struggled to stay warm out in the cold even after spending all that time wrapping up. That’s when she decided to ask her mom to “make something.”
Her mom, Jennifer Harrison, wrote on Facebook that her daughter asked:
“Mommy will you make me something that keeps me warm at recess – my blankets fall and don’t stay tucked so cold air hits me.”
Zoey’s father, John, said that his wife started “buying a lot of coats” and coming up with ideas for different designs.
Eventually, she finalized an “invention,” he said.
Jennifer used two coats stitched together to create a “bodycoat” that not only covers her daughter’s whole body but fits over her little girl’s wheelchair so it’s easy to get in and out.
The mom uploaded a tutorial on how to use the coat to Facebook for Zoey’s in-class helper to see. Little did she know, millions of others would watch it too.
The mom told WZZM:
“Within a few days, the video went viral. The views were in the millions.”
Soon after the video was posted, the family started getting thousands of requests from other families who wanted similar coats.
Now, the family is putting their all into building a business around the design. They launched a company called X-Ability, where they sell the bodycoats.
The mom told ABC News:
“When I did this, I purely did it to help her. If I was a millionaire, I’d make them and give them away. We are at the point where we want to find an investor.”
The Harrisons are doing their best to keep up with demand and even give some coats away to children in need.
Zoey said she’s happy that her dilemma led to others getting help, too:
“See my ability — not my disability. I saved recess for myself and a million other people.”
Watch the video below:
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