On a relaxing Sunday evening in 2017, 22-month old Maddex fell into the family pool and was without oxygen for an estimated 5 to 10 minutes.

As a beautiful summer day was coming to a close in Seymour, Indiana, the youngest member of the Elicio clan was playing with his 4 other siblings in the house. While Maddex’s mom tended to his twin sister in another room, some of the older kids went outside to play leaving the back door wide open. This opportunity was unfortunately too tempting for young Maddex, as he also made his way out the door in an attempt to join everyone else.

It only took a few moments for Maddex to climb the pool’s entry ladder and unintentionally submerge himself under water. By time he was pulled out by his parents, it was too late.

“When we pulled him out of the water, his heart was not beating,” Maddex’s mom recalls. “There were two police officers next door at our neighbors. I called to them and they put him in their car and headed to ER while giving CPR.”

Maddie, as his family lovingly calls him, suffered an anoxic brain injury which caused severe brain damage. Early on, doctors reported that the damage affected every cortex of his developing brain and predicted that Maddex would not be able to walk, sit, feed himself or even talk. This was devastating news for Maddie’s parents, Christeen and Brian Elicio. The large, active family of 7 would have to learn a new way to move about the world now.

A few years removed and Maddex is slowly making progress thanks to his dedicated parents and constant stream of therapy. So far the doctor’s predictions have rang true and Maddex is not able to ambulate freely, adding new hurdles to their active lifestyle.

Christeen and her family would love the opportunity to all return to the outdoors, where they used to spend a majority of their free time.

“I’d like to see caves and caverns but we just cannot do that with a stroller,” Christeen told us. “Most stroller or wheelchair paths around here are in town and even cross roads, but we want to really enjoy nature and get a good workout in with the kids.”

Thanks to our donors and sponsors, Holton’s Heroes was able to purchase the Freeloader Child Carrier plus special neck support for Maddex, so that he can join his family on outdoor hikes once again.

“The carrier allows for Maddex to be upright and more involved in our hike,” Christeen shared with us. “It makes it so much more special to be able to involve Maddie in this way and it adds a hint of normalcy.”

We are so happy to be able to gift this family the opportunity to be out of the house as a family unit once again, especially without the boundaries or confines of a wheelchair.