Photo and story by Whitney Zumberger
Bluffton Icon intern
A child's first step is a memory that last forever. Bluffton University student, Marcus Meyers, of Holland, Ohio, sees taking a simple step as a challenge while he surpasses the daily obstacles of Cerebral Palsy Spastic Dysplasi, a disability he was born with and which he has overcome.
"Cerebral palsy is a condition, sometimes thought of as a group of disorders that can involve brain and nervous system functions such as movement, learning, hearing, seeing, and thinking" according to Google health(https://health.google.com/health/ref/Cerebral+palsy).
Since Marcus' cerebral palsy occurred at birth, he knows no different than the daily struggles using his muscles.
He explains this by saying: "think of a kinked hose where water is still coming out but not strong. Just like my muscles they move, just react slower and are not as strong."
Marcus's weak muscles make him rely on other university students such as his physical assistants, or PA's. While at home, his PA's are his parents who assist him in both a physical matter and also emotionally to help guide him through life.
While at Bluffton University three students: Tim Nofziger, Jason A. Johnson and Ryan Worcester assist him with his daily needs.
As physical assistants, they help Marcus with daily chores such as dressing, shower supervision, exercises, stretches, walking, laundry, and emergency evacuations.
Each student is trained to handle any situation that may arise throughout the year. As PA's their training allows them to prepare for issues with Marcus falling, body temperature getting too low, and the procedures to work his muscles.
These students are only a small number of the people at Bluffton University, who have accepted Marcus for who he is, rather than seeing him as a kid in a wheel chair.
The student body on campus has gone past forming stereotypes to see the great work Marcus can do with a major in social work and also through his personal faith.
As a social work major he plans on continuing community services and wants to help his community that has assisted him through his struggles and growth in his disability.
Marcus depends daily on the assistance of his PA's, but he said, "with the help of my PA's I can do anything and everything I put my mind to."
For instance, he said, "God gave me my disability to educate people about my disability and how I am just as capable as everyone else I just require a little more assistance in the physical aspect. God taught me to not judge like others have judge me in the past."
Even with his disability Marcus would never change his life; he enjoys the challenges that have he goes through every day, because he knows that those challenges are what make him who he is today.
So while you walk down the steps while doing your daily tasks, realize how special each step is that you take, while Marcus trusts someone picking him up to get him down the stairs.
For Marcus, those few steps he takes are as memorable as your first steps, both a memory that last a life time.
Whitney Zumberger is a Bluffton University student enrolled in a feature writing class instructed by Mary and Fred Steiner.
