Thank you for your vulnerability and honesty about how you feel like a burden and how you feel sad when your mobility challenges steal moments from you (e.g., going to a water park). I’m coming up on 5 years and have been feeling those same emotions A LOT. Most days I’m okay. But when I see people riding bikes, running, crossing the street in between curb cut-outs, I get a pang in my heart that I won’t be able to live that carefree life where I don’t have to manage all of my bodily functions, pain, sores, and 2/3 of my body being paralyzed. I was feeling bad that I had those moments because I thought it was preventing my emotional recovery. Now I see it is just a part of this life. And that’s okay to name it. As long as the feelings don’t remain all the time. Thanks so much for this channel. It is so refreshing and brings healing to the soul.

you experienced two of my most terrible nightmares as a wheelchair user: not being able to have your wheelchair with you and having to be carried up and down the stairs. My wheelchair got damaged after each flight, so I stopped flying since, and once fell from the stairs when ppl where lifting my wheelchair so.... never again!! BTW how the heck did your friend manage to pop a wheelie on that gigantic thing? lol

you look very enthusiastic and inspire many people, your energy is very positive

About 11 months ago my wife of 40 years had a stroke. In looking for channels for ideas to help her recovery I found your channel. Thank you for what you do. You've already helped me more than you'll ever know.❤

@EmpoweredPara

2 ай бұрын

It's a tough road trying to support someone that has gone through a life changing medical event. Give yourself grace when it gets hard and have faith that your wife will get better with time. Was she paralyzed from her stroke?

You are so reflected on the wheelchair realities. Thank you for that. I traveled alone in a wheelchair to Costa Rica and Jamaica (and others, but those where the "important to me" destinations...) and yes it's a part of the game that you run into more challenging things, even more things you can't do, then if you would stay at home in your safe and known surroundings. So, it CAN be emotionally challenging. But: I encountered so many positive things on my trips... so many respectful people that where just doing the right things naturally. Mostly offering help out of respect without even being asked for help. Maybe it helps to be in a touristic environment, but it can't be just that. The important thing is: I remember so much more of the things I could do, the things that worked, the friends I made, than I remember the things that weren't possible. Especially in hindsight. So. If you can: Get out, go* places. *Edit: Roll where you feel like rolling to, do it with pride, and good things will come your way.

Great vlog! Loved your transparency, and the cave restaurant’s workers etc

First off, Thank you so much for continuing to "work" on vacation. This is YOUR time so we are just so fortunate that you let us come along. I have not been on a plane since I've started using my motorized chair full-time. My husband swears the airlines will render it unusable at our destination leaving us stuck. I think he's using it as an excuse to not go which leads me to what you said about being a burden to go places with. It's a lot. I'm pretty self sufficient I feel. But I'm going on 40 years post injury & anytime there's been a big family outing or get together somewhere, I may not be told about it or invited because of accessibility issues or time limitations and Yeah, it sucks, it really hurts to miss out. And we can't fix it. I'm thrilled that you can be picked up & carried so easily. I'm 5'10" 178 so that's not something my husband is going to do. I'm still going to try to get him to agree to take a trip with me.. Thank you for addressing actual issues we all deal with...keeping it real. Forgetting necessary supplies is something I would do even though I would have "that bag" packed weeks in advance & likely waiting at the door. Please keep doing what you do! Sure does help those of us to not feel so isolated.

I 100% get what your saying about sometimes just letting your friends and family just do some things without you. It does suck, but it brings me joy to see the ones I love enjoy activities without worrying about me. Not a wheelchair user, I have Spina Bifida & use walking aids. I also use catheters & have to drink & pee a lot, I'm always aware the constant worry of finding a bathroom when travelling is a pain for everyone.

Nothing brigthens my day quite like catching up with your life update! Keep posting these vlogs, we absolutely adore you! ❤

Thanks Brittney for making this video, I’ve never been to Mexico before and have been hesitant because of the accessibility. This has dispelled some of my fears. Also I meet your friend Bean in Toronto, I was there for a Neuro trauma conference. To make a long story short my good friends that I went with, are friends with Bean. We all had dinner together, she’s was a hoot. The funny thing was when I was taking my service dog out for a pee I wheeled by Bean and said I know her and momentarily couldn’t remember where I knew her from, came back into the hotel and into the restaurant. A few minutes later Bean wheels up, to our table the lights go on lol. What a small world our community really is. Now I want to go to Mexico, we were just in California a few months back, I can hardly wait when the airlines make flying in our wheelchairs a real thing.

My heart broke when you were speaking about you feeling like you hold your family back. Although you have a great family, I can empathize with how you feel. Since I became disabled, my family has completely disowned me. I don't hear from them. They do not help me. They don't even return phone calls, texts, emails, etc. I guess they don't want to be bothered. I must get in the way of their perfect life. I'm lonely. I'm heartbroken. I get depressed sometimes. My heart broke for you because I would never want anyone else to feel the way I do.

@EmpoweredPara

3 ай бұрын

That must have been extremely traumatic, especially while going through such a huge life change. I can't understand why anyone would do that. It must have reinforced that you are a burden now, which is so hard to undo. I'm sorry that happened to you and I hope you can find the inner strength to build yourself back up from such a devastating loss of support. I hope you have other people that support you, but if not I recommend reaching out and connecting with other people with disabilities in your community.

@averagejoesmiling456

3 ай бұрын

@@EmpoweredPara Thank you for your kind words! It gets exhausting trying to make your way through life as a one-man army. Currently, I have no support system. My plan is to try to find a church where it is accessible and easy for me to attend. I think, if you can't find a few people you can count on within a church, it may be almost impossible anywhere else. The thing is, when you're single and disabled and low-income with no family support, your options become very slim very quickly. You're so busy just trying to get through a day that you don't really have the energy to put into trying to be social. Love your channel because it does help.

@naimarrofiq3707

3 ай бұрын

It's really great for you to have enthusiasm in living your daily life, do you have any tips for introverted people so they can be more confident in doing anything?

@naimarrofiq3707

3 ай бұрын

I am very happy to see your inspiring videos, but does discrimination and racism still often occur in some countries, especially Canada and Mexico? As we know, in the world of football in Europe, racism still often occurs

@naimarrofiq3707

3 ай бұрын

OK, I'll wait for your next video about how to pee using an airplane catheter that comes with a plastic container like you showed

Thanks so much for taking us along with you. Some awesome sites and loved the cave!! A super way to spend your birthday - hope your trip home wasn't too disruptive. There's no place like home though!!

Jacob and Jamie are so grown up my goodness. Looks like you guys had a blast.

So happy for you and hey, who doesn’t forget a bag or stuff. Glad you figured it out.

I''m in Australia, and have just started watching your posts, may I say your a beautiful family, love your positivity.

Something to consider regarding the occasional activities that your husband and kids enjoy without you: Totally irrespective of you disability that is objectively a good thing. In many family arrangements there are many more opportunities for mom to spend time with the kids without dad, than dad without mom. It is good for them to spend some time as it allows dad to bound with his kids in ways not possible if mom is around. Your wheelchair actually encourages a healthy dynamic that many families neglect. Not saying they should exclude you on most activities, but from occasional ones. Wheelchair or not I would encourage on any family vacation there be one or two days in which dad is with the kids and mom gets some alone time (or time with others). (Obviously my comments don’t apply to all families, but to ones where mom is the primary raiser ofthe kids)

1st of all, happy birthday!, celebrate a birthday with a good dinner and the family in cave in Mexico sound really good, the whole placed looked good to me, reminded me of photos of places that i've seen here in the South, East and some of the islands that we've here in Spain; nice!. Glad that it wasn't that bad without the supplies that you wanted to carry for the trip and.. from Mexico to -30ºC.. my lord... i don't want to know how -30ºC feels like; hope that everyone enjoyed the trip and glad that everyone it's safe in home.

I am very happy to watch your video because it can add enthusiasm to everyone, whether in big countries like Canada and Mexico, the treatment of people with disabilities is very good or there is still no justice like racism that happens to football players

I am not ruining myself, also because of your disability with a wheelchair and I am disabled, I am deaf and mute.... I already forget sad, I try to have two happy and I forget ruining,,, your best of special life

Always a delight watching your videos!

18:20 - I’m sure someone would rescue you! Although my wife feels the same way on boats, ships, and even bridges.

19:10 Have you taken...never mind! 21:28 Happy belated Birthday!

gracias a ti, viaje a mexico , yo soy mexicano Thanks to you, I traveled to Mexico, I am Mexican

Thanks so much for talking about the joy/grief aspect when relating to your family...I completely feel that way since TM and being in a wheelchair!

You are so authentic. And that is a gift. ❤

You are totally right about letting your kids be kids

@EmpoweredPara

2 ай бұрын

hard to do sometimes, but necessary!

I think I understand what you were saying near the end of the video about “hard parts” and worrying about being a “burden”. I prefer to think of this in a different perspective. I am the Able-Bodied half of an Interabled Couple, and although my life-partner doesn’t use a wheelchair at present, there are some activities in which she can’t participate. I think in terms of what the disabled person “brings to the table”, rather than thinking about what extra effort the other person(s) might have to do to include them. In your case, I see a gung-ho, cheerful, always-up-for-an-adventure person with great resourcefulness. The joy and fun of being with people with characteristics like this would surely overshadow any extra effort by others to make things work. Having said that, I can also see the advantage of children doing some activities with their father alone, because the children probably do lots of activities with only their mother as well. (Man, am I ever wordy - sorry)

I am an American who used to live in Mexico, and I must tell you most toilets do not have toilet seats in public places. Resorts have them, but that's it. I will bet that wheeling in Mexico is not easy due to the poor road and sidewalks. Moreover, most public stairs do not have handrails like in the US and Canada. It's not really a nation with strict handicap requirements in public.

So sweet, little sister warms by her brother, my sister ask never why I’m in a wheelchair, what’s happens etc…. I wish I had a normal sweet brother or sister, we are grow up with lot of aggression and a father that takes me always down … I tryed to talk with her but she make me a layer.. you’re family or awesome 💕

Looks sooooo fun!!

Brittney that was amazing thank you. 💯 sorry its late but Happy birthday 🥳🥳🥳🎂🍻🥂

So glad you had a great time!!

Thanks for posting this! ❤

Happy belated birthday 🎂

Iron Brian ! Must have had a couple cans of wd 40 after the pool dive ? Looked like a fun time!

Thank you so much for this Volg because I am also in a wheelchair and wants to travel! Saving to my playlist to refer back to ❤

Very happy your vacation was great…. Missing supplies… ok to be lucky…

One of your best videos yet! A lot of filming (and editing!) it looked like. A lot of honesty, and a lot of wonderful experiences with family and friends! I couldn’t tell from your video - did you use your “floatie” when you were swimming?

This is one of my fav videos… as someone who came back with my family from DR a few weeks ago a lot of this resonates for me. What resort was this? Was there a wheelchair accessible ramp to get in and out of pool?

The cave restaurant looked cool, but not sure about the cricket...or bats lol Happy Birthday and it was nice getting to see your trip.

What are your tips for being confident and confident with everything you have been through? Can you give tips for an introvert?

Hey! @6:39 Is that Brian??

So, that’s how you get bumped up the stairs, from the boardwalk! That’s looks like something I could do. As in, I could help someone in a chair up our 3 steps.

Yup. Confirmed. Brian @ 12:27 lol .. I played WCB with and against him back in the day.

@EmpoweredPara

3 ай бұрын

Cool!!!! I'll say hi to you for him! What's your name?

@paralifetv-youreverydaywhe8314

3 ай бұрын

Most likely won't remember. It was like 20 years ago. Shane from New Brunswick@@EmpoweredPara

@EmpoweredPara

3 ай бұрын

@paralifetv-youreverydaywhe8314 He knew right away when I said your first name! He even knew your last name lol.

@paralifetv-youreverydaywhe8314

3 ай бұрын

HA!@@EmpoweredPara

OK, I'm waiting for the next video which discusses how to urinate using a blue airplane catheter which immediately has a plastic bag attached to it as you have shown.

Being carried a lot would put pressure on your bladder

I am Mexican, break the silence "I have a disability, I am deaf and mute."

Hi Brittany. What a amazing woman you are i love watching your videos. I watch them in complete amazement how you overcome things which people like myself take for granted. Thank you for sharing this with us. Anyway Brittany how about a parachute jump I'm sure you could do that

It's kind of sad that a lot of places in the world aren't fully accommodated for disabled people. Especially since the population of disabled people in the world is roughly 1.3 billion. I have thought about visiting Mexico someday, but I don't know if it will happen because I'm a single man living on Ontario disability pension, so I don't know if I will ever afford it. I also understand the feeling of going places with friends or family. I sometimes feel like I'm a burden when I go places with them because they put my wheelchair in their vehicle & have to take it out again. I wish I had gotten my driver's license when I was 16, so I'd have more freedom now. Now I'm 42 & I don't know if I see a point in getting a license & a vehicle because of the ridiculous price of gas.

Do most wheelchairs take a pretty good amount of “abuse” without problems? There seems to be a lot of moving your chair around in different places, including the back of that golf cart, in this video, and my wife and I wondered if it can handle all that without breaking, scratching, etc.

It recognizes lack of disability mobility in all Mexican cities, very sad, no street access with disabilities, I am Mexican... I am very sorry about disability, it is not possible to free

Saw your old video on UTI. Just wanted to ask what kind of symptoms did were you having back then.

@EmpoweredPara

2 ай бұрын

incontinence and urgency

Thank you for sharing your vacation with us. I don't think could have planned ahead as well as you did. If you ever come to Florida. I have a friend who runs an animal sanctuary If your daughter didn't get to Pet an iguana Robbie can make that happen. Might even get to hold a baby alligator or pet lemur. It sounds like I am trying to tempt you to come to Florida, doesn't it? OH and Happy belated Birthday

@EmpoweredPara

3 ай бұрын

Yes, you're totally tempting me! Where in Florida are you?

@cpr58

3 ай бұрын

@@EmpoweredPara I am live Indiana now. But my Friend is in Bushnell Florida. About an hour give or take from Disney. Deepens on the traffic. I will send you a link so you can see some videos of his farm he expanding at the moment getting ready For some big Cats. If you want to go I can call him and put you in touch with him. I think he charges a small fee But that go to help feed the animals

Yeah life in a wheelchair always revolves around finding the next accessible bathroom. Sigh.

I just start but you’re not dumb ❤️…

@EmpoweredPara

3 ай бұрын

Well I felt pretty dumb after leaving my bag at home lol! But thank you!

@GAINZonWHEELS

3 ай бұрын

@@EmpoweredPara felt dumb, isn’t dumb…. You’re so smart, sweet and learned me so much…

Toilet rooms in hotels 😫 why??!!