LEGO Builders Create Custom Wheelchairs for Rescue Kittens
A pair of rescue kittens in Wilmington, North Carolina, received a joyful boost from an especially creative group of LEGO enthusiasts.
Little Star, a kitten supported by Coastal Carolina Kittens, was born with cerebellar hypoplasia, also called wobbly-head syndrome. Because the condition affects the development of the cerebellum, she has difficulty walking. Although Little Star will live with the condition permanently, mobility aids can help her adapt and enjoy a fuller, more independent life.
Unfortunately, custom wheelchairs for cats can cost hundreds—or even thousands—of dollars. They can be particularly impractical for a young kitten who will quickly outgrow the equipment.
That’s where Shelby Cash and Bricks & Minifigs, a specialty LEGO store in Wilmington, found a wonderfully inventive solution.
“It might sound trite, but our goal each day is to create our own slice of LEGO magic for our customers,” the store shared on Facebook in late July. “Today the magic found us from one of our customers, and we were happy to be able to step up!”
After someone suggested building a temporary wheelchair from LEGO Technic pieces, Shelby contacted the store.
“That’s when Shelby called us,” Bricks & Minifigs wrote.
Employee Ryan embraced the opportunity to help, designing a personalized set of wheels that could support Little Star as she continued to grow.
“Our employee Ryan was up to the challenge, crafting a custom-made set of wheels for Little Star today,” the store reported.
Following several modifications, the team watched Little Star begin moving with her new mobility aid.
“After a few adjustments, we're happy to report Little Star took some steps with her new wheelchair. Way to go Ryan, and thank you to Shelby for brightening our day!”
Little Star’s success soon led to another chance for the LEGO builders to put their creativity to good use.
Less than a month later, Rescue Connect sought help for Rex, a 4-month-old kitten who was also born with wobbly-head syndrome. A conventional wheelchair was expected to cost approximately $1,800, yet Rex might outgrow it within a month.
Bricks & Minifigs once again stepped forward. This time, employee Michael Hawley used his lifelong love of LEGO building to create a temporary wheelchair tailored to Rex.
“I’d say some of my earliest conscious memories are with Legos,” Hawley told WECT 6 News. “My older sisters used to terrorize me when I was younger. In order to fend for myself, I would have to build my own ‘Home Alone’ contraptions to get back at them. They don’t make Lego sets for that, so I had to get creative.”
Years later, that imagination helped give Rex greater freedom and made his daily veterinary care easier.
“It was honestly a great feeling,” Hawley said. “I’m just glad to be a part of it.”
For Rex’s foster mother, Jennifer Witkowski, seeing him receive the support he needed brought a welcome sense of possibility.
“It’s hard when you’re in rehab and you watch them struggle and struggle and you don’t know what their future is going to be,” Witkowski said.
“It’s nice when you get that moment of hope they might have a normal life.”
Through kindness, ingenuity and a collection of LEGO pieces, the Wilmington community gave two young kittens the chance to take meaningful steps toward brighter futures.
