Because of YOU Mateo is walking!
- Anita Diaz
- Jun 10
- 3 min read
One day, I came across a video of a child using robotic legs to walk with TREXO technology. I watched it over and over again, imagining Mateo taking his own steps. After everything he had overcome—including five open-heart surgeries and a global brain injury that doctors said might prevent him from seeing, hearing, communicating, or experiencing emotions—I still dreamed of finding a way for him to walk.
I had no idea where TREXO Robotics was located or whether this life-changing technology would ever be accessible to a family like ours. I reached out to TREXO Robotics and spoke with Marc, who explained the process and scheduled a trial for Mateo. What made the conversation even more meaningful was learning that Marc is also the parent of a child who uses the TREXO. He understood exactly what this journey meant to families like ours. As the trial day approached, we felt equal parts excited and nervous.
The Day Everything Changed
On a cold winter day, we travelled to Mississauga to meet Marc and see the TREXO for the very first time. Standing in front of it, I honestly couldn't believe it. There was no way these robotic legs were going to get my son walking. Or so I thought.
Marc carefully positioned Mateo into the TREXO and began the session. Then it happened. Mateo started walking. The room seemed to fade away as we watched him take step after step.
For years we had imagined what this moment might feel like, but nothing could have prepared us for seeing it happen. Tears filled our eyes. We laughed. We cried. We stared in complete disbelief. For a few precious moments, all the surgeries, hospital stays, challenges, and uncertainty disappeared. We were simply watching our son walk.
We left that appointment overwhelmed with joy and hope. The challenge was no longer whether the TREXO could help Mateo walk. The challenge was figuring out how we could ever bring one home.
The Power of Community
We launched a GoFundMe campaign called "Help Mateo Walk Again."
What happened next changed our lives forever. Friends shared our story. Family members rallied around us. Strangers donated. People we had never met believed in Mateo. CTV helped share his story across Guelph and beyond.
With every share, comment, donation, and message of encouragement, we felt surrounded by a community that refused to give up on our son. The campaign was an incredible success. To every person who donated, shared our story, liked a post, sent a message, prayed for Mateo, or cheered him on from afar: Thank you. This achievement belongs to you too.
What Your Support Made Possible
Because of your generosity:
Mateo now has access to walking therapy at home every day.
He can practice walking without waiting for appointments.
He is building strength through consistent movement.
Our family gets to celebrate milestones together in our own home.
Most importantly, Mateo gets the opportunity to experience something we once thought might never be possible. Walking.
The Day Mateo's TREXO Came Home
On May 25, 2026, we received the email we had been dreaming about. Mateo's TREXO was ready. We picked it up and brought it home. We opened the boxes, celebrated, danced, and shared the excitement with Mateo. Before using the TREXO, we completed the mandatory certification training to ensure we could safely operate the equipment.
Then came another unforgettable milestone. On June 4, 2026, Mateo took his first steps at home in his very own TREXO. Thanks to you. Since then, Mateo has continued walking in his TREXO on his home treadmill. Every single one of those steps is possible because of the support we received from family, friends, and complete strangers who believed in Mateo's future.
Every Step Is a Reminder When we see Mateo walking today, we don't just see a remarkable piece of technology. We see kindness. We see generosity. We see hope. We see a community that came together to change the life of one little boy.
Every step Mateo takes is a reminder that compassion has the power to create real change.
From the bottom of our hearts, thank you for helping make this dream a reality!
With gratitude,
Team Mateo
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