Bricks & Minifigs, a specialty Lego store in Wilmington, North Carolina, is used to working with creative customers.
But then, they met Shelby Cash and a rescue kitten from Coastal Carolina Kittens: Little Star.
“It might sound trite, but our goal each day is to create our own slice of LEGO magic for our customers,” Bricks & Minifigs shared on Facebook in late July. “Today the magic found us from one of our customers, and we were happy to be able to step up!”
Bricks & Minifigs Wilmington/Facebook
Little Star was born with cerebellar hypoplasia, commonly known as wobbly-head syndrome. The kitten has had an underdeveloped cerebellum from when she was born and has had trouble walking.
She’ll have the condition her whole life but can learn how to adapt; most cats do with a wheelchair. But those custom cat wheelchairs can cost hundreds, if not a thousand dollars.
“That’s when Shelby called us,” Bricks & Minifigs wrote.
Someone had suggested she find an expert to build one using Lego Technic blocks — at least while she’s still growing.
Bricks & Minifigs Wilmington/Facebook
“Our employee Ryan was up to the challenge, crafting a custom-made set of wheels for Little Star today,” Bricks & Minifigs reported.
“After a few adjustments, we’re happy to report Little Star took some steps with her new wheelchair. Way to go Ryan, and thank you to Shelby for brightening our day!”
But Little Star wasn’t the only kitten that the shop helped.
Bricks & Minifigs Wilmington/Facebook
Less than a month later, Bricks & Minifigs of Wilmington heeded the call of Rescue Connect and kitten Rex. The 4-month-old kitten was also born with wobbly-head syndrome. The experts caring for Rex estimated a wheelchair would cost about $1,800 — and he would grow out of it in about a month.
So, they reached out to the resident Lego cat wheelchair experts. This time, it was employee Michael Hawley who built Rex’s chair.
“I’d say some of my earliest conscious memories are with Legos,” Hawley told WECT 6 News. “My older sisters used to terrorize me when I was younger. In order to fend for myself, I would have to build my own ‘Home Alone’ contraptions to get back at them. They don’t make Lego sets for that, so I had to get creative.”
That skill came in handy again for Rex, who was outfitted with the perfect temporary wheelchair.
“It was honestly a great feeling,” Hawley said. “I’m just glad to be a part of it.”
Like Little Star before him, this wheelchair will help improve Rex’s quality of life and make it easier for vets to support his daily care.
“It’s hard when you’re in rehab and you watch them struggle and struggle and you don’t know what their future is going to be,” Rex’s foster mom, Jennifer Witkowski, said.
“It’s nice when you get that moment of hope they might have a normal life.”
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Featured Image: Bricks & Minifigs Wilmington/Facebook
