Newport – Kayleigh Bowman impresses her parents every day. “When we got her, she would crawl on her back she could open the door with her left foot she would use it like a hand. This was a child that was never supposed to do anything,” said her father, Rick Bowman.

“She’s very determined. Whatever she wants to do, she’ll do it. I have no doubt that sometime in the future she’ll walk,” said her mother, Susan Bowman.

The foster parents have taken care of her since she was one, and finally added her to the family in 2009.

“She was born with hydrocephalus. At the age of about a year old she had a seizure, so that’s why she can’t walk and she’s severely developmentally delayed,” said Susan Bowman.

As Kayleigh has gotten bigger, things have become even more difficult. The bed will help.

“It’s wonderful getting the bed. It’s a relief because she’s getting stronger and stronger and she can stand up now, tries to pull herself up. So when he stands up in her crib, she’s right over the side of it. She’s actually fallen out a couple of times. It’s very scary,” said said Susan Bowman.

The $4,500 custom made bed was donated to the family by the Robbie Foundation, a Scarborough non-profit.

“This is what the foundation is all about. It’s about supporting the needs of children with developmental disabilities and their unmet needs,” said Robbie Foundation Co-Founder Lynn Gierie.

The bed will have padded posts and mesh all away around it to keep Kayleigh safe. It was specially designed and handcrafted in Millinocket.

“State came in took a look at it and thought it was a really wonderful idea so years later they wanted us to help build beds to help families in the state of Maine,” said Patrick Cyr, owner of Courtney Bed, Inc.

But what will Kayleigh think of it?

“I don’t think she’s going to like it, for us. I really don’t know. She doesn’t adjust well to new things but we’ll have to see,” said her mother.

At least for now, she’ll have a safe night’s sleep.

By Caitlin Burchill | See this story at: www.wabi.tv