Big Star running a 5K

Look who's a BIG star on TV!!!

A Gift from Above!!!

Yesterday was no ordinary day (as if we ever have one)! I had to go to Gateway to get parts to work on Drake's first "wheelchair" (some people call it a stroller, but at the $4500 dollar price tag, I think it deserves the name "wheelchair"!). It seems these chairs are only good for so many miles and we have put Drake's to the test on our dirt road, not to mention he's growing tall as a mad-man. By the time $500 worth of parts had been scraped, re-arranged and adjusted, teacher "T" walked in, looked at Drake's chair and asked teacher "A", "Do you think Drake would fit in L's chair?". A- looked at me and asked, "Did you know L?" And away T- went to get the unknown vice.

When she came back in the room, T- was pushing a "BRAND NEW" blaze orange wheel chair! It was spectacular!!! The color was perfect (one of my favorite colors for Drake too). They both said, "I think this might do!". I was told that this chair came from a boy who was at Gateway and had passed-away over the summer. And for those of you who don't understand, these chairs along with ALL special needs equipment, are expensive and custom ordered to the specifics for each individual child.



I went back at 2:00 that afternoon to meet with the teachers, therapists and vendor (who happened to be there this day). We sat Drake in this NEW chair to give it a try and see how if it would POSSIBLY fit. If he was a girl, I would have called him Cinderella with his new glass slipper! He grinned real big, he knew it was for him... specially for him!

Not only did it fit him PERFECTLY, but he was able to use every extra part WHICH was added. There is a head rest that he actually tries to hold his up to now (at least sometimes), there is a special place to put his switch plate so he can play on the computer, there is tilt in space (very important at sleepy time) and most importantly, there is a memory foam seat and back cushion to give his "tushy a little cushy"!!!



I still have to order a new bag to match this fabulous blaze orange and black beauty (maybe I'll call it the Orange Hornet). I swear, if I had the chance to order this $6,500 chair myself (and no those numbers are NOT typos), I would duplicate it! I'm not sure how to tell teacher T- thank-you for thinking of my son at such an opportune time. I'm trying to pull together the words to tell this special family that this chair will be loved and used to best of our abilities!


I just want to say thank-you to baby L- for giving this gift to Drake. You truly understand what it means to have a "big boy" chair to sit safe and sound in!!! Thank-you from the bottom of our hearts. God will take good care of you like I'm sure your family did here on earth, The Naylors

Happy 4th Birthday!!!

Who doesn't love Christmas in August? That was the theme this year for Drake's 4th Birthday! Please goto www.lifetothet.com to read the full story!