Magic Wheelchair, Putting a Smile on Children’s Faces! #WATWB

Welcome to the “We are the World Blogfest” (#WATWB ). The #WATWB was inspired by a simple conversation about how all the negativity on social media was weighing on us. Wanting to make a difference we decided to try to do our part to infuse social media with all the good stories that are out there. We hope to share the stories that show kindness, compassion, hope, overcoming challenges and in general, the impressive resilience of the human spirit. For every dark, negative story out there, there is a positive, heartwarming story that will add some light and lift the human spirit. The last Friday of every month bloggers will share their stories led by five co-hosts, this month’s co-hosts are Shilpa Garg, Sylvia McGrath, Mary Giese, Guilie Castillo and myself. To learn more about #WATWB or to join us click here!

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On October 31st many countries around the world celebrate Halloween also known as All Hallows’ Eve. Halloween in most western countries is a holiday primarily for children where dressing up in costumes and either attending parties or trick or treating is commonplace. For some children (and many of us adults 😉 ) it is the one day of the year we can don a costume and become something different. Many dress up in scary costumes or go as their heroes. Many times children in wheelchairs are excluded from completely dressing up. I love Halloween and I love to see children revel in becoming their favorite character even if it’s just for one day.

Ryan and Lana Weimer have five children, three of whom were born with Spinal Muscular Atrophy a form of Muscular Dystrophy. SMA is characterized by loss of motor function and progressive muscle wasting which often confines the child to a wheelchair.

Every Halloween, Ryan determined to make sure his kids were included would create amazing costumes to transform his children and their wheelchairs. What started out as a simple act of love for his children became an endeavor which has brought smiles to disabled kids all over the world. In 2015, Ryan and Lana started Magic Wheelchair, a non-profit organization that seeks to put a smile on the face of every child in a wheelchair.

Watch here to check out some of the costumes Magic Wheelchair has created:

Article about Magic Wheelchair: https://www.rd.com/true-stories/inspiring/halloween-costumes-kids-in-wheelchairs/

Learn More About Magic Wheelchair: https://www.magicwheelchair.org/

To Learn More About SMA: http://www.muscle.ca/about-muscular-dystrophy/types-of-neuromuscular-disorders/spinal-muscular-atrophy/