Isaiah, a newborn, showed a preference for his left hand, leading to concerns for his parents. At age 1, he was diagnosed with cerebral palsy, followed by epilepsy at age 2. Wanting to encourage him to use his right hand, his mom Kim started the hashtag #HighFiveIsaiah on social media.
High fives turned to dribbles as Isaiah watched the Golden State Warriors and fell in love with basketball, the only sport he can play with right-sided weakness. However, anxiety and fear of seizures in public prevented him from playing with others. Isaiah’s wish was to have a backyard basketball court. For Isaiah, the most important design element was incorporating colors to represent epilepsy (purple) and cerebral palsy (green).
Mid-project, Isaiah devastatingly fractured his femur and dislocated his knee. Yet, the court served as a beacon of hope. Eventually, he regained confidence and started playing with schoolmates, even considering trying out for the team.
The court's positive impact extended beyond sports, as Isaiah's overall attitude and mood improved, leading to a two-year seizure-free milestone. His parents believe the court played a significant role in his progress, boosting his courage and outlook on life.
“This is the longest he’s ever been without seizures, and we really feel like [his wish] had something to do with it.” - Isaiah’s Mom