Maryland members make 20-mile trek possible for wheelchair bound teen

Many people have a good time Pioneer Day with a parade, a celebration, and maybe fireworks. 

In the meantime, 16-year-old Johne Goodrich of Laurel, Maryland, just lately honored the event by collaborating in a 20-mile stake youth trek.

In a wheelchair.

Goodrich, a local of Guam, has been a pioneer his complete life. Born at simply 24 weeks, he’s confronted a string of well being challenges led by spastic diplegia, a type of cerebral palsy. However no bodily limitation would cease him when missionaries knocked on his household’s door in 2014. His coronary heart and soul knew what they wished, and it wasn’t lengthy earlier than the common-or-garden boy was carried into the Pacific Ocean to be baptized. These in attendance nonetheless keep in mind the sacred scene.

Tyson and Laura Goodrich have been amongst these grateful witnesses. Serving within the Navy and stationed in Guam, the couple befriended the younger pioneer with a difficult residence life. What started as rides to church rapidly turned to weekend adventures. Beforehand on a ready checklist to foster a youthful little one, the Goodrichs amended their software and requested then 9-year-old Johne if he’d wish to reside with them.

“Sure,” stated the perpetually unwell and malnourished younger man, and his pioneer journey started a brand new day.

After two years of adjusting to life with such luxuries as a mattress, eyeglasses and unconditional love, it was time for Johne to determine if he wished to be legally adopted and transfer again to the USA together with his household. “It wasn’t a simple choice,” Laura Goodrich stated. “We advised him he seemingly would by no means be again in Guam. And as powerful as his life had been, he beloved these folks.”

Johne first selected to stay on the island, however when movers started packing up his household for his or her transfer, he reversed course and requested if he would possibly nonetheless develop into a Goodrich. It took 18 lengthy months, however in February of 2019, a form social employee from Guam flew Johne all over the world to signal paperwork and be reunited with the Goodrich household.

He didn’t comprehend it but, however his trek had simply begun.

This spring in Laurel, Maryland, Johne and his household, members of the Savage Mill Ward, had one other choice to make. Would Johne register for the Columbia Maryland Stake youth trek? Would a easy wheelchair survive a 20-mile journey by way of the hills and creeks of Camp Liahona close to Fayetteville, Pennsylvania? Would Church leaders and different youths be overburdened by his participation?

The solutions got here in a candy sequence of miracles.

“We started discussing with the coordinators the way it may work,” Johne’s mom stated. “Would he must experience in a wagon? A handcart? The assist truck? However that’s not what Johne actually wished and his leaders have been simply extremely sort and supportive.”

The Goodrichs started researching alternate wheelchairs, one thing that might enable him to totally take part, and found a design with mountain bike wheels and a novel body. The worth tag, particularly for a three-day occasion, was a hurdle. However earlier than the household may even decide about subsequent steps, a good friend and Church member stepped up.

Native member {and professional} caterer Karyn Wilcox steered a web based fundraiser with good perks — baked items.

In simply three weeks, pals and Church members in Maryland and past purchased and offered treats to at least one one other and raised practically $4,000. Earlier than they might even start to thank Wilcox and the angelic military that made the miracle occur, the wheelchair was ordered, arrived and rigged for trek.

“It was a really nice expertise!” Johne stated in an interview from his residence the day after trek concluded. “The primary day was the toughest, we went 12 miles. However I bought sorted into a tremendous trek household.”

With infinite enthusiasm, he described every day and the exhausting terrain. “I had some helpers on the uphill climbs. These have been exhausting. However the downhills have been enjoyable!”

At one level on day two, Johne thought-about whether or not the path was too powerful to press on. “To be trustworthy, I didn’t give it some thought lengthy. I wished to be there for my trek siblings. We simply saved encouraging one another. We couldn’t let one another down.”

On day three as the corporate arrived on the finish of their journey, the path boss gathered all of them in a circle and requested them to raise Johne within the air. “I used to be so hyped and emotional. Folks have been cheering, and I had tears of pleasure in my eyes. It felt like all of the burdens have been lifted away, all these doubts. I felt braveness!”

When requested what he’d say to the youths who lifted him up bodily and spiritually, and to the adults who supported him alongside the way in which, and to his dad and mom and sisters, and to those that donated to buy his distinctive set of wheels, Johne didn’t hesitate. “I’m stuffed with love for them. With out them none of this could be doable. Keep in mind whenever you suppose you may’t make it, place confidence in the folks round you. You’ll get there.”