Noah is an inspiring 12 year old the team at Active Rehab are very privileged to know. Noah’s story can inspire everyone to overcome their challenges and to live their best life! Noah was born at 29 weeks weighing just over 1kg, and this was just the start of his tough journey. Little Noah struggled, being allergic to every type of food and suffering from seizures, as well as losing his vision and mobility. Hospital became his second home. It was after many mis-diagnoses, eight years of not knowing, and much testing that Noah finally got his correct diagnosis of a rare genetic mitochondrial disorder. 

What is Mitochondrial disorder?

Mitochondrial disorder, known as ‘Mito’ is a debilitating genetic disorder that robs the body’s cells of energy, causing multiple organ dysfunction or failure and potentially death. One Australian baby born each week will develop a severe or life-threatening form of Mito, which equates to over 50 Australian children each year. Noah’s form of Mito is very rare and he is the only recorded person in Australia with his form of the disorder. Sadly, Mito is a terminal condition; there are no cures and few effective treatments. However, Mito foundation is determined to change this. Visit their website to find out more: https://www.mito.org.au/ 

Living Life

Noah doesn’t let Mito rule his life, he has surpassed doctors’ expectations with regards to life expectancy and is very busy achieving new goals. Noah is ticking off achievements on his “living life list” a bucket list, where he adds activities he would like to do. What a legend! Some of Noah’s achievements are listed below: 

• Grade 6 school captain 
• Published his own book 
• Captain of the Mito foundation’s “Mito Movement” 
• Hugging a seal 

• Having a picnic on a volcano 

Surprise to Noah!

Having Mito means that noah requires assistive technology to help him in his daily life. Equipment provides Noah independence and mobility which is vital for his wellbeing. 

Noah’s Glide Centro powerchair is an essential piece of equipment and he has always called it his bumblebee. Together with Gide Products (the manufacture of Noah’s powerchair) we surprised Noah with new covers for his powerchair representing… BUMBLEBEE!. It was a fantastic project, and the look on Noah’s face says it all. 

Go Noah! We are so proud of you!

It’s clients like you that fuel our passion for providing ‘rehab equipment tailored to for your life’.

Recourses used in this article:https://7news.com.au/lifestyle/doctors-said-noah-wouldnt-live-past-age-10-this-is-why-his-mum-calls-it-a-terrible-gift-c-6174312 https://www.mito.org.au/ https://honey.nine.com.au/parenting/rare-disease-day-genetic-mitochondrial-disease-noah/213ab8ad-dba8-495a-8e63-c51041a3dd17