Kyla had always felt the world in a way that was different from those around her. She had Autism and her senses often went into overdrive. Going on the smallest errands like going to the store with her mom for a gallon of milk was often too much. The hum of the grocery store buzzed in her ears, the bright lights felt too bright, and the aisles stretched like endless tunnels. Whenever the noise and chaos overwhelmed her, she would plop down on the floor, her limbs suddenly heavy, her heart racing, like having a panic attack out loud. It was her way of finding calmness in the storm. Often this would last for 30 minutes or more before Kyla was calm enough to get up. Simple errands seemed like huge mountains to climb.
Her mom, who loved her so much, would kneel beside her, whispering soothing words as shoppers glanced over with a mix of curiosity and judgment. They didn’t understand. They didn’t know that Kyla, with her sassy haircut and bright beautiful eyes, was a superhero in her own right, navigating a world that felt like a maze. But now, at thirteen, she was as tall as her mom, and lifting her to safety was becoming impossible.
One particularly afternoon, while they were holding hands and crossing a busy street, Kyla felt the familiar wave of anxiety rise. Before she could think, she sat down right there in the middle of a street, her body rigid and her breathing quickening. Her mom desperately was trying to lift her to safety and put her own safety at risk to help Kyla, but Kyla refused to get up, and her mom was desperate. Her mom stopped cars and people jumped out to see if they could help, but Kyla was determined to sit in that spot and ride out her panic attack until she felt ready. They felt the weight of the stares and the whispers. “Kyla, honey, let’s take a deep breath,” she said gently, but Kyla was lost in her own world, the chaos swallowing her whole. Eventually they made it across the street.
Defeated, her Mom was crying at their next visit to the doctor and told him how hard it was on her and Kyla to go anywhere anymore. The doctor said matter of factly "Many kids like Kyla ride in wheelchairs for safety." After this visit to the doctor, Kylas mom left with tears in her eyes. The suggestion of a wheelchair felt like a defeat. All of the challenges they already had, now a wheelchair too?! She had always imagined her daughter conquering the world, not needing assistance to navigate it.
When the wheelchair finally arrived, it was bright pink. Kyla's mom loaded the wheelchair in the trunk and off they went to the store. When they arrived at the store Kyla was so excited and hopped right in smiling and clapping. As her mom wheeled her through the grocery store for the first time, something incredible happened.
Instead of the whispers and judgment, people smiled and offered help. Doors swung open for them, and strangers stopped to pray for them. Kyla smiled, her heart swelling with a sense of belonging she had never felt before. Kyla felt very secure in the wheelchair!
With their newfound freedom, Kyla and her mom explored and shopped and went on walks and to concerts, places that had once felt too overwhelming. They laughed as they raced through the aisles of the grocery store, picking out colorful fruits and snacks. Kyla discovered she could zoom down the ramps, her laughter ringing out like music, a sound that filled the air with joy. They were FREEEEEE!
Kyla’s wheelchair became a symbol of their adventures, a vessel of connection rather than isolation. They navigated the world together, with her Mom cheering her on and Kyla discovering new strengths. With every trip, every laugh, and every moment shared, they thanked God for all of the firsts they were able to experience.
Kyla's mom realized that while the world would always have its challenges, they could face them together. The wheelchair hadn’t taken away Kyla’s superpowers; it had amplified them, allowing her to soar in ways she had never imagined. Together, they embraced their journey, and the world began to open up, filled with freedom and kindness.
Beep beep!!!