ARVADA, Colo. (KDVR) — At just three years old, little Otto is on the move — curious, adventurous, and ready to explore the world, starting right in his own backyard.
“He loves being outside. He wants to explore,” said Otto’s mom, Sarah Bahlenhorst. “He just started walking a couple months ago, and we needed him to have a safe environment to do that.”
For any child, a safe play area is important. But for Otto, it’s essential, which is why Sarah became more and more concerned about the family’s deteriorating back deck.
Otto was born with a rare genetic condition called STXBP1. At three years old, he is nonverbal, experiences epileptic episodes, and faces challenges with movement. Yet that hasn’t slowed down his determination to learn and explore.
“He’s moving a lot, and he doesn’t really understand boundaries and safety,” Sarah explained.
The family’s back deck — old and unsafe — had become a serious hazard. For Otto, whose mobility and balance require extra care, it was a daily concern.
That’s when Rob Schmidt, owner of The Deck Company, received a call.
“Megan, the homeowner, called and said, ‘Can you come look at our deck?’” said Schmidt. “When I saw it, I told her, ‘You’re going to need a whole new deck.’ She was honest and said, ‘We just can’t afford that.’ Then she told me about her son.”
Moved by Otto’s story, Schmidt decided to step in to help. He reached out to nearly a dozen local businesses — and together, they donated about $30,000 worth of materials to build a brand-new, safe deck for Otto and his family.
“This deck will be all brand new — pressure-treated lumber, joist tape, updated hardware — everything,” Schmidt said. “We’ll do whatever we have to do to make sure Otto has a safe and fun deck to get around with his little wheelie, and that the family can enjoy it for many years to come.”
For Sarah and her family, the gift is life-changing.
“From the bottom of my heart, it’s the most grateful thing anyone has ever done for us,” she said. “To just let him wander around on the deck safely is a huge bonus for our family — and for him especially.”
As construction crews worked outside his Arvada home, Otto watched with excitement — a little boy eager to take his next big steps in the world.
“If he could tell everybody himself,” Sarah said with a smile, “He would say, ‘I’m so excited!’”
Anthony Sutton is a business strategist and writer with a passion for management, leadership, and entrepreneurship. With years of experience in the corporate world, he shares insights on business growth, strategy, and innovation through management-opleiding.org.
