Wheelchair perigrino being pushed by best friend

[Tomboak]

Saw this post on the American Pilgrims on the Camino (APOC) Facebook page. They should be leaving SJPP in the next few days.

http://www.jrn.com/kivitv/news/Ill-push-you-260052711.html

 

[wayfarer]

What a fantastic thing to do, good on them both.

 

[koilife]

Was sad to see the Camino characterized as, "A road through Spain called the Camino Trail was long used as a trade route centuries ago, and thousands of people including Patrick Gray and Justin Skeesuck gather here every year to be part of a historical trek through ancient country."

Makes me sad to think that this rich tradition of spiritual pilgrimage has been so watered down to trade and history; perhaps God is dead after all.

On the other hand, seeing the example of these two friends reminds me that he is very much alive!

 

[Felipe]

Very moving. And certainly, they put our little problems with blisters, tendinitis, etc, in perspective...
I met in Burgos a Spaniard family (the grandma, parents, brothers, cousins...almost a clan) who was doing the Camino with a young boy with cerebral palsy. They were well organised, worked efficiently as a team (three of them were needed to take him to the shower) and all of them were really happy.

 

[Deacon Harbey Santiago]

Was sad to see the Camino characterized as, "A road through Spain called the Camino Trail was long used as a trade route centuries ago, and thousands of people including Patrick Gray and Justin Skeesuck gather here every year to be part of a historical trek through ancient country."

Just another example of Main Stream Media completed ignorance of all things spiritual. Sadly these are the people who form public opinion in our culture...disheartening.

"Viva Cristo Rey!!"
Camino bound, Sept 2014
Deacon Harbey Santiago

 

[koilife]

A moment permanently etched in my memory . . .

We met a paraplegic former soldier on the Maseta making his Camino with a tri-cycle that he pedaled with his hands. He carried all of his own gear in panniers, including a portable wheelchair. He had one of those "Mr. Incredible" upper bodies that radiates pure, raw power. Because of the cycle, he was confined to roads and gentler trails, but he chewed those up at an astonishing pace.

He said his Camino marked his "graduation" from rehab; it was his way to "purge his demons" and transition into the next phase of his life. For a man purging demons, he was clearly and deeply at peace, and he said that if he'd not lost his legs to the IED, he'd never have found God or "walked" the Camino. "I'm grateful to be here, just grateful," he said that evening, clearly choking back tears.

 

[t2andreo]

I am writing this sitting in front of a toasty fire at Pazo Santa Maria, at the north edge of Arzua, two days from completing my second, full C/F at Santiago. It is an outrageous, luxurious, wonderful, and way 'round the proverbial bend' place to stay and I ended up here quite by accident as every other hostal in Arzua was completo. But I digress...

Since leaving Sarria this past Monday I have, several times, encountered a young person along the Camino, clearly affected with Down's Syndrome, who was pleasantly walking along with, and and greeting all fellow peregrinos. Though accompanied by at least one other adult who appeared to carry some of this person's gear, I was deeply moved by the entire experience. Who am I to whine about my worn out knees?

In a related vein, last June, after completing my first, full Camino from St. Jean Pied de Port, I was introduced at Santiago to a man named "D" from the Strasbourg area of France. He had suffered a left-side stroke three-years earlier, that paralyzed his right side.

After three years of rehabilitation, he managed the entire Camino Frances with a right hand that could hold and position a single walking staff, but nothing else, and a right leg that could be dragged after placing the walking staff for balance, but which had little motive capability of its own. I literally wept when I encountered "D." What an example! Who am I to complain about a blister?

I suppose my point is that no one is completely "handicapped." People have different "ability levels" according to their individual life situation. These wonderful peregrinos, all of them mentioned in this thread, serve as examples to each of us as to how people can overcome adversity.

What appears to limit what we can and do achieve is frequently shaped by opinions and expectations from environment, famines and friends. Most everyone can find adjustments or accommodations that will support them doing a Camino in the best way possible for that person, despite any physical or mental limitation the person may be challenged by in their daily life.

Remember, that to criticize another pilgrim is to condemn yourself (apologies to John Brierley for the paraphrase). We ought, all of us who have done a Camino, to seek and encourage persons of all ability levels to participate in a Camino to the best of their abilities, if that is their desire, dream or wish.

I applaud anyone, of any ability level, age, or station in life who undertakes to complete ANY Camino. Over the past nearly 1,200 years, millions of pilgrims have done so. Many thousands have even died in the doing of a pilgrimage. Most will forever remain anonymous. But we have all seen the many memorials along the Camino to more recent pilgrims who died in the pursuit of their "Impossible Dream."

Still many, many millions more people have not yet experienced the profound, life affirming, and affective effects of completing a Camino. It is those people that I encourage to join the ranks of all those persons over the millennia who have struggled and overcome any adversity to complete a Camino.

Okay, soap box relinquished. I sincerely hope this helps someone. It made me feel better, and the log fire needs stoking...

 

[Healing Pilgrim]

I too applaud all those with disabilities, seen and unseen, who find the courage and initiative to embark on the Camino. I walked from Pamplona to Muxia last fall, and though I tend to shy away from labels, I could qualify myself as disabled; "could qualify," because my impairments are hidden. So I wasn't able to carry my backpack (donkeys and a Carrix did the heavy carrying!) and walked more slowly than most. Moreover, many pilgrims expressed envy that I didn't "have" to carry my own pack... The key thing is to set one's sights on our goal - the more impossible-seeming, the better! - and just find the way to get there, putting one foot (or wheel) in front of the other. We'll each find our own path, disability or not, and hopefully learn and grow from it. I wish the wheelie-friends all the best on their... muy buen camino! (ps best not to place too much significance on what the anchors and reporter said; I've worked in TV news, and when you have 4 minutes with a trifle of info, you're not likely to get much of it 'right' )

 

[SYates]

All this puts bed bugs and other minor inconveniences into perspective - doesn't it?
Buen Camino para tod@s, SY

 

[Kialoa3]

Two nights ago my wife Robin and I attended a Camino presentation at the University of Portland. The presenters were Justin Skeesuck, and Patrick Gray. Both of these men, close friends from childhood, traveled the Camino Frances last summer. Justin sat in a specially designed wheelchair, and Patrick pushed him. They started in St. Jean Pied de Port, crossed over the Pyrenees on the Route Napoleon, and continued on 500 miles to Santiago. It sounds so easy when it is stated that way, but as you might surmise, it was far from an easy journey. They were traveling with a small film crew who just did the filming, no pushing. The pushing, and pulling, was left to Patrick. One of the film clips they showed was of Patrick and an enlisted helper trying to get Justin up and over the Pyrenees. The mud was deep and slippery, and the task at hand just seemed utterly impossible. Why even try to go further? How could this possibly be done? These thoughts were crossing their minds when they encountered a local Basque man walking on the mountain. Justin was out of his chair and stretched out on the ground, while the others were trying to catch their breath after carrying Justin in a sling when they could no longer take both him and the chair together. The man walked over to Justin, stood astride of him and started gently slapping him on the face as if trying to revive him. Justin looked up and heard the man saying something like, "Anything is possible, or "Make the possible out of the impossible." Justin, as if coming out of a dream, then knew something had changed, and together, recommitting to the journey, the small ad hoc team pressed on to Roncesvalles where they arrived 13.5 hours after leaving St. Jean.

Their story is filled with such occurrences. They quickly realized that they would never make it to Santiago without help. Keep in mind that Justin has very little mobility and needed help with all the usual daily chores including bathing, feeding, and going to the bathroom. Patrick was his primary caregiver and happily assisted Justin, but this was after pushing a 250 pound chair (including the weight of Justin) all day long. But, as those of us who have walked the Camino know, help just seems to arrive when you most need it. What they discovered was that as they went along people would just ask to help them. Some would push and pull for an hour or two, and collapse exhausted, unable to help any more. Others would stay with them for days. And so it went day after day as they inched their way towards Santiago. Camino angels arrived and relief was found even in their most desperate moments. At one point a group of 17 fellow pilgrims helped them up to the summit of O'Cebreiro. Some pushed and pulled while others carried the backpacks of those helping with the wheelchair. It was an amazing expression of love, compassion, and joy. Also, it is important to note how well Justin received this assistance. We can imagine how easy it would be to feel crushing guilt as you sat in a chair watching all these people really struggling to move you along while you literally could not move a finger to help them. But, Justin's humbleness transcended that guilt. It was his gift of humility to them that helped many others offer their gift of assistance to him. It all just worked. It was never easy, but it just worked.

Yes, they made it to Santiago. One might say it was a miracle, but there they were arriving in front of the cathedral and into the arms of their waiting wives. The impossible had happened. Both Patrick and Justin admit that they discovered that the Camino is not about the destination, not about chasing a goal, but rather it is about the community that is formed around pilgrims traveling together. We seem to be better at accepting people for who they are on the Camino then we do at home. True community must have room for everyone even those who we might, and probably would, shun at home. We are always too quick to select friends based on how they reflect who we are. It is in our brokenness, that healing and love are found. It is the wounded and marginalized that show us the path to grace. In a loving community, even the least among us, has a place at the table. It is there that we learn to share our humanity, and to joyfully embrace, care for, and nurture all those who find their way to us. When we succeed we are all better for it.

Last summer, two humble pilgrims set out on a seemingly impossible journey and found themselves unexpectedly bathed in the astonishing light of a loving community of fellow travelers who simply said, yes, I'll help push you. It was with those simple words, from so many people, that the impossible became possible. Those encounters, I feel safe in saying, have transformed both Justin and Patrick, and all those who walked with, and helped them. The reaffirmation of the goodness that dwells within all of us is a powerful reminder that we can create our own "Camino miracles" by opening our hearts and listening for those faint voices that all too frequently get lost in the noise of our busy daily lives. Many are calling out to us, but how frequently do we say, yes, I'll help (push) you. The day you do, everything changes. Miracles do happen just ask Patrick and Justin.

On a side note, Robin and I were sitting just behind them at the pilgrim mass in Santiago the day that they arrived last July. We had just recently arrived from Le Puy, and had a chance to say hello and congratulate them. Lot's of smiling faces at mass that day.

A film of their journey along the Camino Frances entitled "I'll Push You" is now in development. Please visit their website at, www.illpushyou.com, for more information.

Buen Camino

 

[mspath]

What poignant and moving account! This is a true camino fable of caritas.