Good Morning (or whenever you choose to read this),
When we think of cowboys, we certainly have a prototype in mind, a clear picture of what a cowboy is. I would bet that cowboy is not in a wheelchair for most of you. Well, in the book I’m releasing the end of next week, the hero is a cowboy with all the heart, honesty, and beliefs of a cowboy, he lives on a ranch and works hard. In fact, he works very hard, and he’s also in a wheelchair.
You may be thinking, how can that be? If he has no legs or no ability to use his legs, how does he ride a horse? Those are good questions (and also questions people are sometimes afraid to ask for fear of legitimately hurting others). The answer is, in many cases, yes. Paraplegics can ride horses. Let’s chat about it.
This is Brendon Ruse, he is a former Army Ranger and suffered a debilitating spinal injury. After recovering, he becomes a clinical psychologist and offers counseling to victims of human trafficking at Wayside Ranch. While he’s not a wrangler as many of the men on the ranch are, he still enjoys riding.
Brendon has worked hard and enjoys his life on the ranch. He has an all-terrain wheelchair that helps him move around on the rougher terrain of a rural setting. His chair looks something like this one (this one is from Razor Blade Terrain).
With this chair, Brendon can go almost anywhere he wishes to. The only places really inaccessible are homes with stairs and no railing (he is capable of using a narrow railing and his arms, but he doesn’t prefer to do so).
With his riding mount assist, he can mount a horse without help, though it does perturb him that Connor requires a spotter for him in case the chain would slip from his grasp and he’d land on the floor, potentially injuring himself). All of this came through research. I knew paraplegics could ride from another story I wrote, but I never understood (because while I had mobility issues, I certainly felt disabled) that many people in wheelchairs actually don’t feel disabled. They don’t want to be treated differently. They just want to happily live their lives. And that’s kind of the revelation I wanted to pass on in Operation: Discovery.
Now, to be honest, there’s a lot more in the book than just Brendon’s grappling with one particular woman who he thinks treated him as incomplete when they dated in the past. It is a second-chance romance, but it also sheds light on a horrible situation in this world, human trafficking. The whole series does, but this one is sensitive because it’s about children. Fair warning if you preorder the book.
Bottom line, if a cowboy is made by the condition of his heart, character, and work ethic, Brendon is definitely a cowboy and he’ll ride off into the sunset to prove it.
This sounds like a great book. I am always inspired by those who refuse to let difficult situations define them!
I am too! I love stories where I can get out of my own head for a while and experience the life of someone different from me.
Hey Kari! This one I might have to read and probably cry all the way through it! LOL I have a handicapped brother who has a spinal injury. Back in 1981 he was moving rolls of hay from the field to the barn when the mechanics of the lift malfunctioned. It kept going up and he kept trying to stop it. The 1000 pound roll fell on top of him and changed his life forever. It is truly a blessing to have him with us for this long. Doctors who did his surgery told my parents he wouldn’t live past 10 years. He proved them wrong. And by a long shot! He was only 19 years old. He has had the most positive attitude to many difficulties in his life. He is my greatest inspiration and because of him and his life, I’m a better person. And so is everyone around him.
Many blessings to you Kari!
Oh, that is a ‘wow, God!’ story, for sure! Thank you for sharing and I’m so glad he’s had such an impact on those around him.
I’m so excited to Brendon will get his own story! I’m reading book one now, Operation Restoration. I’m hooked.
Thank you, Julie. That means so much to me <3
It wonderful you’ve found a way to write this book in a respectful way.
Individuals with disabilities and differences are written incorrectly much of the time.
I am praying I got it right. I was only in the position of using a wheelchair for a short time before I was able to get pain relief surgically. I dug deeply to try to find accounts of people who have been through similar situations. So, I’m hopeful I tackled it in a respectful way.
That book sounds so good! Looking forward to reading it!
I hope you enjoy it!
I have really enjoyed all the books in this series and can’t wait to read Brendon’s story. I know the stories in human trafficking are hard to read, but need to be told.
I agree. I think it’s one of the worst tragedies of the current age. Thank you so much for reading the Wayside series.
Sounds good!
Thank you <3
This sounds real inspiring, my brother lost his leg to cancer 13 years ago and just received a new hip because the cancer came back. Stories like this give us hope.
I love the story as it shows that there is a way to do things with a but if work.
I think you’re right. That’s what it comes down to. With work, a life that people would consider ‘normal’ is definitely possible.
I’ll be praying for his recovery.
this is a most interesting post. thanks for sharing and educating some of us.
Thank you, Lori.
The book sounds interesting. Can’t wait to read it.
Thank you, Linda.
This sounds like an amazing book! I’m excited to read it! I’m passionate about ending human trafficking, and have some visual impairments, so I’ve had a small bit of experience with disability. I read ebooks with the print enlarged, and listen to audiobooks, so I can still enjoy great stories!
Thank you so much. There’s so much work to do to end human trafficking.
Wow, Kari!! I can’t imagine that this would have been an easy book to write. Not only for the research but for the compassion you’d need and want for the characters. Sounds riveting!
Thank you, Pam.
Thank you so much for sharing. I can understand. My electric wheelchair does have problem with gravel and yard terrain. God bless you.
Debbie, I can imagine using a chair that was meant for regular use would be very difficult outside of regular city/home terrain.
Hi Kari, Looking forward to reading Brendon’s story. Yes, wheelchairs need to be made for each person & their needs. I have a nephew that is in a wheelchair, a few years after his birth. He outgrows his chairs very fast & needs a new one made for him. My aches & pains are nothing compared to his everyday struggles.
Thanks for sharing the information. People tend not to realize just how much people with disabilities can do and accomplish. It takes determination and accommodations, but it is surprising just how much they can do. I look forward to reading how he has met the challenges to live his best life.