The Story behind
Wheelchairs on the Go
In 1965, on a high school football field in Richmond, Indiana,
Randy Stigleman missed a tackle that altered his life forever.
Laying lifeless, with a broken neck, totally paralyzed, Randy was rushed to a hospital 90 miles away in Indianapolis where he hung between life and death for two weeks. The community rallied behind him with tremendous emotional support and fundraisers to help pay the staggering medical bills. At 17, he was told he would be a quadriplegic for the rest of his life.
Randy never lost his faith or his zest for life. He realized God had a bigger plan and purpose for his life and would give him the strength to overcome the challenges. After college, he married Michelle, his high school sweetheart. They share a passion that life should be lived to its fullest. As a family man, Randy has two wonderful children. Professionally, Randy is a partner in a successful health care company. Socially, Randy is the life of the party. And for fun, he has snow skied, ridden hot air balloons, flown in a glider, whitewater rafted and gone scuba diving. His real love, however, is fishing. In addition to saltwater fishing around his home in Florida, he has traveled out west and in Canada to fly fish many world-class rivers. Randy's strong faith, an optimistic attitude and an outgoing personality have been an inspiration to others. Randy is far from the stereotype of a 'disabled' person.
But don't think that traveling and having fun in a wheelchair is simple. Michelle starts months in advance planning trips, seeking out details that able-bodied travelers can take for granted. How hilly is the trail to the river? Is the trail paved, mulched or natural? Are the riverbanks level? How far down to the water? Can someone help lift him aboard the boat? Is it shady enough that Randy won't overheat? They often stumble across opportunities we never dreamed possible. For instance, one summer in Colorado, they passed a 'Disabled Ski School.' Curious, they stopped in and discovered a premiere ski program for the disabled with specialized equipment, classes and specially trained staff. Our only regret was not finding this opportunity years earlier.
When their children left for college Michelle explored different career paths, now that she no longer needed to be a stay-at-home mom. She felt God calling her to use her experiences to help others. But how? After 18 months of prayer, she woke up one morning with the answer: to take what she has learned from planning family vacations for a wheelchair-bound person and write a guide to help others find the many recreational opportunities available to them.
The book provides the practical details that the physically disabled need. It may open doors and new opportunities for someone struggling with a life changing disability. It also sends a message of encouragement to stretch oneís limits and develop an ìI canî attitude that will enrich their lives forever.
T hus , t h e i d e a o f W h e e l c h a i r s o n t h e G o w a s b o r n . I n 1 9 9 8 M i c h e l l e t e a m e d u p w i t h D e b o r a h V a n B r u n t , w h o h a s a c o m m u n i c a t i o n s b a c k g r o u n d a n d w h o s e f a m i l y t r a v e l s f r e q u e n t l y w i t h t h e S t i g l e m a n s . T h e y p u b l i s h e d a s m a l l a c c e s s g u i d e e x c l u s i v e l y o n F l o r i d a s G u l f C o a s t . I t s o v e r w h e l m i n g s u c c e s s a n d t r e m e n d o u s f e e d b a c k f r o m r e a d e r s e n c o u r a g e d S t i g l e m a n a n d V a n B r u n t t o p u b l i s h t h i s F l o r i d a - w i d e g u i d e . A f t e r f o u r y e a r s o f r e s e a r c h t h a t i n c o r p o r a t e d a n d e x p a n d e d t h e i n f o r m a t i o n i n t h e f i r s t b o o k , t h e n e w s t a t e - w i d e W h e e l c h a i r s o n t h e G o i s t h e d e f i n i t i v e g u i d e t o F l o r i d a f o r p e o p l e u s i n g c a n e s , w a l k e r s a n d w h e e l c h a i r s .
W h e e l c h a i r s o n t h e G o c a n s a v e y o u h o u r s o f p a i n s t a k i n g t r a v e l p l a n n i n g a n d t h o s e d i s a s t r o u s d i s a p p o i n t m e n t s o f a r r i v i n g s o m e p l a c e w i t h u n e x p e c t e d b a r r i e r s . T h e a u t h o r s h a v e c r e a t e d a k e y t o u n l o c k a c t i v i t i e s a n d a d v e n t u r e s y o u m a y h a v e n e v e r t h o u g h t p o s s i b l e f o r s o m e o n e w i t h l i m i t e d m o b i l i t y . T h e b o o k p r o v i d e s t h e p r a c t i c a l d e t a i l s t h a t t h e p h y s i c a l l y d i s a b l e d n e e d . I t m a y o p e n d o o r s a n d n e w o p p o r t u n i t i e s f o r s o m e o n e s t r u g g l i n g w i t h a l i f e c h a n g i n g d i s a b i l i t y . I t a l s o s e n d s a m e s s a g e o f e n c o u r a g e m e n t t o s t r e t c h o n e s l i m i t s a n d d e v e l o p a n "I c a n a t t i t u d e" t h a t w i l l e n r i c h th e i r l i v e s f o r e v e r .
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