This is a powerful story of love like I have not seen in a long time….maybe not ever outside of a Hollywood movie. It is love between a married couple combined with the love they have for those in their lives. They are the epitome of what I envisioned when I thought of the concept of Be A Light. They came into my life through a tragedy and I hope they remain in my life as they have impacted me in such a way that they both will be ingrained into my being forever. What is even more remarkable is that they don’t even seem to realize the power they radiate. Let me tell you their story.
WB was at a waterskiing school and had a terrible accident that left him a quadriplegic. His wife MB received the gut wrenching call and had to make her way to North Carolina to face this arduous undertaking. I met them almost 6 months after this accident and had the pleasure of interviewing them as part of my job responsibilities. My first phone call with them was an hour long and left me with a feeling that I had gained two friends. AB was the most positive person interjecting a positive “he can do this” phrase at every possible moment. She insists that WB will walk again. He has already made such great strides that he is utilizing his arms and making progress with his hands as well and walking with the help of a robotic Ekso skeleton. When asked about his goals and where he would like to travel to he states “I don’t care as long as it’s with my wife.” Tears came to all of our eyes at that moment.
Even more remarkable, one of their long term goals is to pay back all the people that have helped them these past 6 months. I said WHAT!! You two are already thinking about others when you have been through so much and will continue to work hard to get WB on his feet again. This was so incredulous to me. Now I ask myself, wouldn’t it be great if this wasn’t so incredulous to me? Wouldn’t it be great if this was the world be lived in daily with people bending over backwards to help each other? Let’s get there! Let’s all make it a point to shine a light on others we see doing good and to extend that goodness to others! WE CAN DO THIS! WE CAN ALL BE A LIGHT!
