Think back to the time when you were in school and it was the day that you went on a field trip. It was absolutely exhilarating, not only because you were going to see something new but because you had the opportunity to get out of school for one day. Some of the different field trips I can remember from my youth include going to the Smithsonian, traveling to a local battlefield park and even taking a trip to the local McDonald’s and getting a look behind the scenes. It really didn’t matter where we went, it was something that we shared as a class.
Not everybody, however, has the same experiences when it comes to field trips. For a mother named Shelly King, the upcoming field trip notification resulted in some panic on her part. She was worrying about her daughter, Ryan Neighbors. Although she would want to go on the field trip, she was born with spina bifida, a birth defect that occurs when the spinal cord is improperly formed before birth. Ryan was in a wheelchair, and it didn’t look favorable for her going to the outing with the rest of the class.
In order to correct some of her spinal deformity, 10-year-old Ryan has gone through over 32 surgeries. She uses a wheelchair to get from one place to another. Fortunately, the elementary school where she attends, Tully Elementary School in Jeffersontown, Kentucky has always been good about helping her through her disability. Shelly started to wonder, however, how they would do with this field trip that involved a hike through fields and streams.
“Obviously, NOT accessible,” Shelly wrote on her daughter’s dedicated Facebook page. “I was preparing for an ‘alternate field trip day.’”
Although her mother was worried, she really didn’t have to be overly concerned. One of the teachers that were also attending the field trip got in touch with her and offered to carry 55 pound Ryan on his back.
“I’m happy to tote her around on the falls all day!” Jim Freeman wrote to Shelly. She accepted the offer, saying that he is more than a teacher, he is somebody that wanted to ensure that all of the students got to experience the day out.
“That’s how wonderful this man is,” Shelly said. “We’ve never really talked. I didn’t know his first name before he offered to do this.”
Another one of the mother’s shared pictures of the field trip and show just how sweet it was.
Jim carried Ryan in a special backpack carrier all day long as they went through the state park. He didn’t hold back from going anywhere, regardless of whether it was over rock formations or over riverbanks. Ryan loved being able to experience the field trip with her classmates and to make a few memories in the process.
After Shelly posted about this kind deed on Facebook, it was shared and went viral. People were calling the teacher a hero but Jim never had any doubt that he would step up to the plate. He knew that he had the strength to care for the process and he felt it was his duty to allow her to have a great day out.
“This is just one physical act that you can see, but we do this countless times throughout the school day and throughout the year,” Jim explained. “All the teachers here at Tully and JCPS, they work harder than most people realize.”
Jim really made a difference in the life of both Ryan and her mother. Shelly loves seeing the pictures and hopes that other children and teachers are inspired to do similar when it comes to caring for others.
“To anybody else who is in a wheelchair, nothing should stop you … and you shouldn’t be afraid to ask for help,” Shelly said. “There are good people out there who want to help you.”
If there ever was a teacher that stepped up to the plate and helped out a student in need, it was Jim. Every child deserves to experience their childhood and he did what was necessary to make sure that she experienced hers.
Source: Inspire More