JANUARY 11TH, 2024
BEYOND THE PAVEMENT
by: Nerissa Daybreak Cannon

Nerissa is one in every of GRIT’s authentic Trailblazers! Her journey with persistent sickness has made her very captivated with serving to different folks get essentially the most out of life regardless of a disabling situation.

***Editor’s Notice: For the reason that preliminary posting of this text, the Trailblazer Program has been changed with our Ambassador Program. E-mail [email protected] for extra particulars. For different funding choices please go to our Financing Web page.***

After I began experiencing progressive and debilitating bodily signs across the time I turned 24, I wasn’t fairly positive what the remainder of my life would seem like. I had at all times been very lively, significantly having fun with outside actions, and I noticed every part I beloved being taken away from me. I needed to go away the job I had on the time as a result of I couldn’t safely and adequately carry out my duties anymore. I used to be ready for solutions and remedy for my sickness, however medical doctors remained baffled. Finally, I made a decision I couldn’t wait anymore. I didn’t need to miss out on life and all it needed to supply, so I began to analysis adaptive outside athletics. Throughout this analysis interval, I found the GRIT Freedom Chair.

I got here throughout the GRIT Freedom Chair across the time they began providing a mannequin within the USA. Instantly, I used to be impressed with the simplicity of the design and all that the rider may accomplish inside that design. It appeared such a easy but ingenious system, combining the fundamentals of a bicycle with the operate of a wheelchair. Nonetheless, with my employment struggles and the truth that I used to be nonetheless undiagnosed, I had little in the best way of entry to funds to amass the chair. I joined the mailing checklist and stalked GRIT’s web site and Fb web page for a few 12 months. I used to be keen to observe the event and listen to from different riders. I used to be decided I’d get the funds to amass one finally! Fortunate for me, that day got here before even I anticipated!

As a consequence of actively stalking GRIT’s media shops, I grew to become conscious of their “Trailblazer Program.” A person may apply to obtain a Freedom Chair FREE for one 12 months in trade for testing it and taking pictures and writing weblog posts on our experiences with it! I instantly knew I needed to apply, however, to be sincere, I had little expectation that I’d be chosen. I’d been denied related alternatives as a result of I used to be nonetheless undiagnosed, and I may nonetheless stroll quick distances. I anticipated GRIT would need somebody who was a full-time wheelchair consumer and who had a identified incapacity. To my utter shock and delight, I used to be 1 of 10 Trailblazers chosen to take part in this system!

Eagerly, I launched into my journey with my GRIT Freedom Chair! The very first thing these round me seen was how a lot happier I used to be. I’ve battled Power Melancholy for a few years, however having the ability to as soon as once more get outdoors so simply and infrequently did wonders for my psychological well being. I pushed the chair’s limits, going the place no wheelchair had dared go earlier than! The GRIT Freedom Chair allowed me to stroll two giant canine in a rural space very efficiently for months! One thing I couldn’t have completed in any other case. I loved that folks noticed me within the GRIT Freedom Chair as somebody taking up life and having fun with myself, fairly than somebody to be pitied (which I usually get in my normal wheelchair). The assist and friendship I used to be proven by the GRIT Workforce all through that point was at all times above and past what I anticipated. The months after first buying my Freedom Chair had been full of so many wonderful adventures and experiences that I by no means even dreamed I’d have the ability to have once more.

As I knew the Trailblazer program interval was drawing to an in depth, I used to be a bit of unhappy, however principally simply unbelievably grateful for the experiences I had. It was at the moment I noticed GRIT announce that they’d a few job openings. Residing in Southern Utah on the time, I assumed, “Oh I want I may! However even when they wished to rent me, I couldn’t transfer to Boston.” Nonetheless, my authentic plans for summer season work had fallen by, and I wasn’t positive what I used to be going to do on the time. With the push of a pricey pal, I submitted my software for the Administrative Assistant Place. Even over the three weeks whereas I waited to be contacted for an interview, I used to be making an attempt to speak myself out of it, LOL! Nonetheless, after my interview, one thing simply felt proper. To my nice shock, I used to be supplied the job! I then needed to plan a cross-country transfer in solely 2 weeks! This was the start of a tremendous journey!

This entire journey remains to be very surreal! Going from stalking GRIT’s Fb web page and dreaming about in the future having one in every of my very own, however having ZERO clue as to how I’d pay for it, to now being within the headquarters, serving to to advise new and potential riders, aiding with placing chairs collectively, and being a participant in product improvement conferences, it’s like a dream come true! I discovered a spot that celebrates my distinctive perspective and values what I’ve to supply. I work in a spot that warmly welcomes my service canine. I’m in a position to spend nearly all of my waking hours working onerous at work price doing, work that makes a distinction, and greater than something, that’s what I wished to seek out in my life. I really feel actually honored to be the place I’m. I hope to be part of the GRIT crew for a really very long time.