Arizona mom creates Elf on the Shelf wheelchair for 2-year-old daughter

PHOENIX — An Arizona mother has modified a Christmas tradition to help her 2-year-old daughter feel more included.

Samantha Lackey, of Phoenix, added a wheelchair to her family’s Elf on the Shelf, KNXV-TV reported. That makes her daughter, Stella Lackey, feel a kinship to the mischievous elf, as she also uses a wheelchair.

“Yes, this is a silly little tradition but if it can start a conversation on how we really need to improve inclusion and accessibility in our everyday life, I will make Elf of the Shelf for the rest of the year,” Samantha Lackey told the television station.

"I don't think she even second guesses that the elf is in a wheelchair because that's just what she's so used to ... For me to be able to mirror this little elf with her personality, I think she truly appreciates it." ❤️ https://t.co/Km8bbJUjvl
— Good Morning America (@GMA) December 21, 2021

Stella Lackey has spinal muscular atrophy and needs a wheelchair to move around, KNXV reported.

But her Christmas companion, the Elf does the same things the 2-year-old does, “Good Morning America” reported. That includes rock climbing during occupational therapy sessions and using a nasogastric tube, which brings food and medicine to Stella’s stomach through her nose. The Elf’s tube is filled with hot chocolate, the television program reported.

“She loves to go down the ramp into our backyard, she loves to climb the rock wall at occupational therapy, get into makeup, make a mess, it is my toddler in an elf,” Samantha Lackey told KNXV.

Stella Lackey was diagnosed with SMA when she was four weeks old and received her first wheelchair -- which she calls “wheel wheels” -- when she was 9 months old, Samantha Lackey said.

“She is a very typical toddler in most senses. She does use a wheelchair,” Samantha Lackey told KNXV. “From then, we’ve really seen her confidence grow.”

The child’s confidence grew after her parents gave her a Barbie doll in a wheelchair, the television station reported.

“As a mom, I was worried about how am I going to relate to my child. I don’t have a disability, I unfortunately never had relationships with disabled people growing up,” Samantha Lackey told “Good Morning America.” “So to see her truly appreciate how much representation can mean, it was a no-brainer.

“I don’t think she even second guesses that the elf is in a wheelchair because that’s just what she’s so used to,” Samantha Lackey added. “For me to be able to mirror this little elf with her personality, I think she truly appreciates it.”