Tears of Joy: Disabled Toddler’s Magical Day at the Ocean
In a heartwarming moment that brought tears to a mother’s eyes, a disabled two-year-old boy named Joey Leathwood experienced the joy of playing in the ocean, thanks to the charity Beach Ability.
Joey has quadriplegic cerebral palsy, a condition that affects his arms, legs, torso, and face, and also causes sensory issues. As a result, beach trips were always a challenge for Joey and his family. However, Beach Ability provided a beach wheelchair for Joey, allowing him to have a magical encounter with the ocean waves.
Helen Butterfield, Joey’s mother, captured the precious moment on video, and it was a truly emotional experience. She described it as “one of the most special moments of my life” and mentioned that Joey had never laughed so much before. For the first time, Joey got to enjoy the beauty of nature and the ocean, thanks to Beach Ability’s thoughtful gesture.
Helen expressed her gratitude, saying, “Beach Ability has given my boy the chance to experience waves and mother nature’s beauty instead of feeling left out and different.” She praised the beach wheelchair, emphasizing how easy and smooth it was to use, despite her initial skepticism.
While Joey has sensory issues, he has always loved water, so his mom decided to see if he would have the same affinity for the sea as he does for a bath. It turns out, Joey absolutely adored splashing in the ocean waves.
Despite the challenges Joey has faced, his mom sees him as “tiny but mighty” and is overwhelmed with happiness to witness his joy in the sea. The heartwarming video of Joey playing in the ocean will be a cherished memory for his family, reminding them of this perfect experience from start to finish.
