INTRODUCES US TO GAVIN FOR WE LEARNED ABOUT AS QUICKLY THAT GAVIN FORD DOES NOT LIVE IN ORDINARY LIFE. AS WE LEARNED THAT GAVIN FORD IS AN EXTRAORDINARY KID. I’M LIKE ANYBODY ELSE. I DON’T WANT YOU TO TREAT ME DIFFERENTLY. HE WAS THE FIRST KID TO PLAY IN THE LITTLE LEAGUE MAJORS IN A WHEELCHAIR IN HIS HOMETOWN OF NORTH REDDING. FUNNY STORY, ACTUALLY. MY FIRST AT BAT. FIRST PITCH, I GOT HIT RIGHT IN THE NECK. JUST THE FASTBALL RIGHT TO THE NECK. AND I WAS KIND OF A WELCOME. YOU’RE HERE. IT’S AMAZING THAT HE’S HERE. BORN WITH SPINA BIFIDA, A NEURAL DEFECT OF THE SPINE. HE USES EVERY OUNCE OF ENERGY TO DO ALL THE THINGS HE LOVES TO DO THROUGH ADAPTIVE BASKETBALL IN LACROSSE, SURFING AND BASEBALL, AND HIS FAVORITE SLED HOCKEY. GAVIN IS A 15 YEAR OLD ATHLETE IN SPITE OF YEARS OF SURGERIES AND MONTHS SPENT AWAY FROM RINKS IN COURTS. AND IN 2020, TWO OUT OF 365 DAYS OF THE YEAR, GAVIN WAS BEDBOUND FOR 192 OF THEM. STILL, HE HOPES ONE DAY TO MAKE IT ALL THE WAY TO THE PARALYMPICS. BUT HIS GOALS DON’T END THERE. I LEARNED ENGINEERING ALL THIS YEAR. I WANT TO BE AN ARCHITECT. THAT’S MY DREAM JOB. NOT EVERY BUILDING IS ACCESSIBLE, SO I DON’T REALLY WANT THAT TO BE A STRUGGLE FOR ANYBODY BECAUSE I KNOW I HAVE TO STRUGGLE WITH THAT. HE’S AMAZING, BUT WHAT I REALLY RESPECT IS HIS WILLINGNESS TO SHARE HIS OPPORTUNITY FOR THE BENEFIT OF OTHERS. SO WHY DO WE DECIDE TO INTRODUCE YOU TO GAVIN FORD TODAY? BECAUSE KIDS LIKE GAVIN ARE NOT JUST HERE TO INSPIRE OTHER KIDS LIKE GAVIN. THEY’RE HERE TO SHOW THE REST OF THE WORLD HOW TO LIVE IN NORTH ANDOVER JOSH BROGADIR WHY WCVB SPORTSCENTER 5? WELL PUT.
15-year-old para-athlete in Massachusetts inspiring others with his ability
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Updated: 5:46 AM EDT Jun 21, 2023
Gavin Ford insists on not being treated any differently, despite the extraordinary para-athlete living a life that is anything but ordinary.Ford was the first kid in his hometown of North Reading, Massachusetts, to play in the Little League majors division while in a wheelchair."Funny story, actually. My first at bat, first pitch, I got hit right in the neck. Just a fastball right to the neck and I was kind of like: 'Welcome, you're here,'" Ford said while smiling and chuckling.Born with spina bifida, a neurological birth defect in which an area of the spinal column doesn't form properly, Gavin uses every ounce of energy in order to do all of the things he loves to do. He is able to participate in a number of sports from adaptive basketball and lacrosse to surfing and baseball, and his favorite, sled ice hockey. That is all despite years of surgeries and months away from fields, rinks, courts and the ocean."In 2022, out of 365 days of the year, Gavin was bed-bound for 192 of them," said Jen Ford, Gavin's mother.Gavin hopes one day to participate in the Paralympics, but he also has an even more altruistic goal."I learned engineering all this year. I want to be an architect. That's my dream job," Gavin said. "Not every building is accessible, so I don't really want that to be a struggle for anybody because I know I have to struggle with that.""He's amazing, but what I really respect is his willingness to share his opportunity for the benefit of others," Jen Ford said.
Gavin Ford insists on not being treated any differently, despite the extraordinary para-athlete living a life that is anything but ordinary.
Ford was the first kid in his hometown of North Reading, Massachusetts, to play in the Little League majors division while in a wheelchair.
"Funny story, actually. My first at bat, first pitch, I got hit right in the neck. Just a fastball right to the neck and I was kind of like: 'Welcome, you're here,'" Ford said while smiling and chuckling.
Born with spina bifida, a neurological birth defect in which an area of the spinal column doesn't form properly, Gavin uses every ounce of energy in order to do all of the things he loves to do. He is able to participate in a number of sports from adaptive basketball and lacrosse to surfing and baseball, and his favorite, sled ice hockey. That is all despite years of surgeries and months away from fields, rinks, courts and the ocean.
"In 2022, out of 365 days of the year, Gavin was bed-bound for 192 of them," said Jen Ford, Gavin's mother.
Gavin hopes one day to participate in the Paralympics, but he also has an even more altruistic goal.
"I learned engineering all this year. I want to be an architect. That's my dream job," Gavin said. "Not every building is accessible, so I don't really want that to be a struggle for anybody because I know I have to struggle with that."
"He's amazing, but what I really respect is his willingness to share his opportunity for the benefit of others," Jen Ford said.
