I was watching TV one Sunday morning and came across the story of Brooke Ellison. A quadriplegic woman since the age of 11 following a tragic accident, she was essentially given no hope for leading anything resembling a normal life. But she was not an ordinary person. Brooke’s story is one of remarkable resilience and determination, about overcoming personal odds, and later devoting her life to giving a voice to others with disabilities.
I was saddened to learn that Brooke had passed away at the young age of 45. Having never met her, I find her a kindred spirit. As someone who has lived with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) since high school, I dealt with naysayers and had to make career decisions, just as Brooke did. We were also faced with a key challenge: We can give in to our disabilities, OR we can live our lives despite our disabilities. Thankfully, we chose the latter.
I’m certainly no pioneer like Brooke. Her life, her inspiration, and her drive truly defined what it means to defy the odds and live a purposeful life despite a physically limiting disability. She didn’t want to be the girl in the wheelchair. She wanted to be the girl that made an impact on people’s lives. And she did that by dedicating her whole life to helping change the narrative around people with disabilities.
Her life has been well chronicled—in her book Miracles Happen: One Mother, One Daughter, One Journey, and a feature television film based on the book—The Brooke Ellison Story, directed by actor Christopher Reeve, himself becoming a quadriplegic and disability advocate.
Not all of us could do what the Ellison’s did. It’s not easy, however, with the right support in place, family, and attitude, it can work for some families. The Ellison’s faced a lot and they can look back on Brooke’s legacy as one of true accomplishment and progress for the disability community.
I am glad I took my path of turning my disability into a purpose. And we all owe Brooke that same gratitude. She was a trailblazer, and it is up to us to keep her drive and spirit alive.
