Mom helps daughter with physical rehab

ORLANDO, FLa. (WOFL FOX 35) - Her daughter was paralyzed from the chest down. Doctors said she'd never walk again. So, mom decided to open up her own facility to help rehabilitate her daughter.

Clients at Step It Up are making progress with a radical new technique which helps them regain control of their bodies.

"It's what they call the Darsinski method in retraining and reorganizing the nervous system," says Liza Perla-Riedel, founder.

She opened up this shop after her daughter was in a car accident two years ago. "I was so in shock I was like, 'no, that could not be possible.'" Doctors told her Amanda would live her life in a wheelchair.

"I would call physical therapy places... they either didn't have the equipment, or the manpower or they didn't take my insurance."

When she finally found the Darsinski method in California, she knew she had to have it back home.

"There's nothing in Florida. There's nothing in the South East that will help my daughter."

Now six months in operation, her daughter is making some major strides.

"Just in locking my knees for the first time like it seems so insignificant but it's so huge and it's like every little improvement you can make makes your whole day," says daughter Amanda Perla.

And the clientele list is growing.

"There's no other type of therapy place that offers hope like we do. I get to work with them and we get to reach our goals together," says Amanda.

For Liza, opening this business was well worth it.

"Whether it's Amanda now standing at the standing bar without anybody holding her up there. It's all these little gains that keep progressing."

Therapy is expensive. It's $100 an hour and $250 for three hours.

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On the web:

StepItUpRecovery.org