STAND UP!

THE BENEFITS OF STANDERS FOR CHILDREN ARE CLEAR

by Kathy Wechsler

Morgan Fritz stands eye to eye with the star of “Bear in the Big Blue House,” thanks to her mobile stander.

Ten-year-old Morgan Fritz of St. Peters, Mo., received a spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) diagnosis when she was 15 months old. Three months later, she began a standing program, and she’s kept at it ever since.

Instead of a wheelchair, Morgan, who was the 2005 MDA National Goodwill Ambassador, uses a Standing

Dani Dynamic wheel stand from DavisMade as her main form of mobility. She typically stands for four to five hours per day, as recommended by her physical therapist (PT).

Although there’s no scientific proof, her parents, Ron and Sue Fritz, believe Morgan’s standing routine over the years is a big reason why she doesn’t