LIVE QUICKIE BLOG

Sometimes they see me out with my wife and our four kids. Other times they come across a photo online or watch a video of me loading up the family for an adventure, navigating a trail, or simply trying to keep up with everyday life. The sentiment is usually the same: "I can't imagine." The truth is, there was a time when I couldn't imagine it, either.

I'm a single mom of 10 children who travels with four of them while raising my youngest son, Elijah, who lives with a terminal diagnosis of Lissencephaly and uses a wheelchair. This means every trip requires planning that goes far beyond packing bags and booking hotels.

For many people, whether they live with chronic illnesses, physical disabilities, or maybe no health issues at all, it can be beneficial to both our mental and physical health to get outside and breathe in fresh air and maybe meditate.

For the first ten years after my diagnosis, Multiple Sclerosis did not permanently limit my physical abilities. Shortly after turning 30, however, my mobility changed dramatically and I began using a wheelchair.

Air travel looks very different for wheelchair users compared to able-bodied travelers, and it comes with many fears. From the moment a wheelchair user enters the airport, there are already challenges ahead.