Amigo Mobility International - Healthcare: eLibrary

Dreams Really Do Come True!
By: Trisston Wright Burrows
www.trisstonwrightburrows.com
Friendly Wheels, Issue 10

Shortly after my birth on August 12, 1975, I was diagnosed with a condition called Cerebral Palsy which affects my fine motor skills and ability to balance to walk. However, from the day I was born, the word "can't" has never been in my vocabulary. My family has always encouraged me to do my very best and that's exactly what I've tried to do!

Throughout childhood, I was extremely active. When other toddlers were learning to walk, I was learning to use a wheelchair for mobility. However, using a manual wheelchair was very difficult for me. Luckily, for me, one day my Mom and I were at the grocery store in my hometown of Prattville, Alabama and we saw a lady riding an electric POV/scooter. We had never seen a POV/scooter like hers before. Intrigued, we went over and spoke to her. She gladly told us all about her Amigo and gave us contact information. Just a few days later, my parents called the Amigo headquarters in Michigan and purchased my very first Amigo.

Talk about a dream coming true! My Amigo opened up a whole new world to me. No longer did I have to struggle with a manual wheelchair nor did I have to rely on others to push me. I literally grew up with my Amigo... from enjoying just being a kid and participating in school activities, clubs, hobbies, marching band to first dates, socials, proms, high school graduation, college graduation and a pageant... My Amigo has been right there with me. In fact, when I was a little girl, I heard about a contest called the Ms. Wheelchair America Pageant and I dreamed of one day being in it. And one of my biggest dreams came true, when I was selected as Ms. Wheelchair America/Alabama 2005.

As Ms. Wheelchair America/Alabama 2005, I have the great privilege and honor of serving as an advocate, an educator, and a promoter of issues concerning people with disabilities, while at the same time serving as an inspiration and encouragement to all people by demonstrating what the word "ability" truly means. My platform focuses on the "Extra-Ordinary Abilities" of people with disabilities.....that is, the determination to go beyond the ordinary and I take every opportunity to share my story with others.

When I was crowned Ms. Wheelchair America/Alabama 2005, I had no idea how much I life would positively change forever....not that it wasn't already a wonderful life because I choose to live each and every day of my life to its fullest. Yet, now I am able to open many doors that were not available to me before, and I am able to bring about a better understanding of the strengths of people with disabilities. I am blessed with an opportunity that continues to gain momentum.

In June of 2006, I traveled to Troy University in Troy, Alabama to speak at the Youth Leadership Forum. When I arrived, I was greeted by a young man named Brian who would be speaking along-side me on the Independent Living Panel. From the moment we met, sparks flew!

Brian has the same disability that I have (Cerebral Palsy) but his affects him a little differently than me. He walks with a gape and he has a speech impediment. Like me, Brian has never allowed his disability to serve as a barrier to living life to its fullest.

After the conference ended, Brian contacted me and we began dating. As we grew closer and closer, I knew he was the one and he knew I was his "Miss Wright." And in addition to dating, we began making speaking appearances together. But hold on.....the story is about to get really good!

In late 2006, Brain and I were asked to be the keynote speakers at a huge statewide conference hosted by Auburn University. This conference would host about 500 people including the top administration for the State of Alabama Department of Rehabilitation and many others. So, it was very important that we make an excellent presentation. At that time, Brian and I lived in different cities and we only saw each other on weekends, so we worked on our keynote address for the conference banquet every weekend for several months. We were so excited about having the opportunity to speak on the same stage and share with others our message about the abilities of people with disabilities. After much brain-storming, we constructed an outline and divided up the topic each of us would speak on. Brian designed brochures to be distributed to everyone at the banquet.

For our finale’, we created a PowerPoint Presentation and slide show which showcased highlights of our lives (from childhood until now) set to the song "Somewhere Out There" by Linda Rohnstadt and James Ingram. Unknown to be me, this presentation would lead right into the surprise of a lifetime.

On March 13, 2007, the evening of the banquet, we took the stage. Everything was going as planned. We each spoke using the word A-B-L-E as an acronym telling stories from our own lives and sharing words of insight and encouragement. And our PowerPoint presentation/slide show was a big hit! I must admit that each time I have seen the presentation/slideshow, I would get a little teary eyed. So you can imagine how happy I was that I made it through on stage without crying.

As the lights came back up and the audience applauded, I was started preparing to go off stage. That is until Brian said, "There's one more thing." I, not having a clue what he was up to, quickly looked at my notes and thought, "No there's not!" When I looked up, Brian had gotten down on one knee in front of 500 people and was asking me to marry him. WOW!!!! Talk about a surprise! I had no idea that he was going to ask me to marry him that night. Nor did I know that he had gone to my parents the week before and asked them for my hand in marriage. Nor did I know that he had purchased a ring. Suffice it to say, I was totally surprised!

Of course, I said "Yes!!" we embraced, and the crowd erupted in celebration. There was not a dry eye in the house. It was certainly another dream come true....a moment that I will always cherish!

Brian and I were married on May 24, 2008 in a beautiful garden ceremony at Aldridge Gardens in Hoover, Alabama. Our wedding day was yet another dream come true and another day that I will always treasure. And our marriage is a dream come true. What could be better than getting to marry your best friend!?

It is hard to believe that I have been an Amigo user now for 25 years. I have heard it said that time flies when you're having fun. If this is the case, then I must be having a blast! Dreams really do come true!! Thanks Amigo for being there every step of the way.

Trisston uses an Amigo RT Express. She is an accomplished artist and writer, with work in galleries throughout Alabama and in The Very Special Arts of Alabama Traveling Exhibit. Additionally, she pens a regular column in the Tri-County Gazette called "Trisston's Tidbits."

Trisston and her husband Brian travel throughout the country advocating, educating and promoting the abilities of people with disabilities, for more information go to www.brianandtrisston.com.

For more information about Trisston, go to www.trisstonwrightburrows.com.