2026 Success Stories

Malachi is a 4-year-old from Ozark, Missouri, whose joyful spirit shines through every part of his life. He has complex medical and developmental needs, including ADNP syndrome, profound Level 3 autism, global developmental delays, mixed receptive-expressive language disorder, significant visual impairment due to Cortical Visual Impairment (CVI), and sleep apnea that requires oxygen at night. Malachi experiences the world with the understanding and impulse control of a toddler, even as his body continues to grow. He has very limited awareness of danger and is drawn to movement, climbing, and water—traits that bring him joy during the day but create serious safety concerns at night. As he grew older and stronger, Malachi outgrew a traditional crib and learned to open doors, leaving his family without a safe or sustainable sleep option. In an effort to protect him, Malachi’s parents created a heavily modified, homemade enclosure where he slept on a mattress on the floor. While this setup was made with love and ingenuity, it required constant adjustments as Malachi continued to grow and was never intended to be a long-term solution. Nighttime remained stressful and unpredictable, especially with the added concern of keeping his oxygen tubing safely in place while he slept.

A specialized safety bed offered the solution Malachi and his family so desperately needed. Designed to provide a secure, calming environment, the bed will significantly reduce the risk of nighttime injury, support his medical needs, and offer consistency and comfort as he grows. Most importantly, it gives Malachi a safe space of his own—one where he can rest, regulate, and feel secure. Malachi is a sensory-seeker who loves spinning, swinging, sliding, jumping on the trampoline, light-up toys, and familiar routines that help him make sense of the world around him. When he is happy, his joy is unmistakable. When he is overwhelmed, his emotions can change quickly—not by choice, but as part of how his brain processes stimulation. For Malachi, a safety bed is not a luxury; it is a critical tool that supports both his safety and his well-being.

Malachi’s bed became A Bed for Izzy’s first fully funded safety bed of 2026, made possible in just a few days through the generosity of donors who believed in his need and his future. Because of that support, Malachi now has a safe place to sleep, grow, and thrive—and his family has the peace of mind that comes from knowing he is protected through the night.