During my daily scroll of the news, my eye was caught by the headline, "Students adapt wheelchair to allow teacher's husband to take baby for a walk after brain surgery." Immediately, I clicked.
The story introduced a young couple who recently welcomed baby Phoenix into their lives. Caring for a newborn was going to require innovative thinking, especially for Jeremy King, who underwent brain surgery a few years back as a result of a brain tumor. King was left with some physical disabilities, but that did not stop him or his wife, Chelsie King. Chelsie, a teacher at a private school, spoke to her colleague about her husband's limitations and desire to care for baby Phoenix like any other dad. Chelsie's colleague invited his students to help solve this problem for the family.
In short, some of the students invented a new device dubbed, WheeStroll, a wheelchair and stroller fastened together by the use of a 3D printer. As a result, the doting dad was and still is able to enjoy the simple pleasures in life, like taking his baby out for a stroll, safely and securely.
Whether you believe it or not, we live in an able-bodied world. The story got me thinking, what if society took a greater interest in creating a space that was favorable for all abilities, like these students did? What if our communities inched out of our black and white boxes just a tiny bit, and built an environment accessible for all?
Take remote work for example. I know you have heard me talk about this, but, it wasn’t until the country was in a crisis that society saw value in working remotely. It became a necessity for all and with a flip of a switch, it seemed as though the workforce was able to adapt to this demand. But what about prior to COVID-19? What about those who really could have benefited from remote work yet weren’t given the opportunity to because accommodating this need seemed like a hassle or a risk? Maybe we need to put less emphasis on the work itself and place more value toward diversifying the actual workforce.
Everyone deserves to live life with intention, with purpose, and with joy. While taking his baby out for a stroll may seem trivial to some, it was life-changing for Jeremy. He is able to bond with his child in a way he thought once impossible. How beautiful the world would be if we continued to color outside the lines a little…
The following blog post was written by Meridith O'Connor, St. Louis Program Coordinator of the Myasthenia Gravis Association.
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