A Box That Opened A Door
Brian's story — Seattle, WA
"When I was a kid, there used to be this ball made out of strips of paper. As you unraveled it, there would be eight or ten tiny toys hidden inside. That was what this backpack was like."
Brian is a 78-year-old retired ophthalmologist who spent decades climbing mountains, ascending the famous Howe Street Stairs of Capitol Hill, and operating on patients' eyes with steady, sure hands. Two years ago, he noticed his legs were getting weak.
Today, he navigates life with a wheelchair and a walker — the result of a spinal cord condition that remains, after a spinal cord biopsy, a medical mystery. When a friend first pointed him toward the Here & Now Project, Brian wasn't sure what to expect. He checked the box on the website for a care package —and then a huge box arrived at his door.
"Holy cow," he thought. "This Here and Now Project is something."The backpack inside was stuffed with surprises: a soft throw blanket, useful tools, small gifts tucked into every pocket. But what moved Brian most was what came next: a phone call from Claire, one of Here and Now Project's cofounders, checking in to make sure he'd received it."It made me think: What is this Here and Now Project?" he said. "I had to find out."
What Happened Next
At his first meeting, Brian noticed a problem: too many people, not enough names. So he started making name tags — handmade, lanyards clipped at both ends so they don't fall apart — and now he brings them to every meeting. He's also developing an incentive program. "I'm going to start giving Hershey's Kisses to everyone who wears theirs."
What keeps him coming back is the room's collective knowledge. He's learned about a scooter attachment that hooks to a wheelchair like an electric bike. He's talked with engineers who have built their own custom devices. He's heard medical histories from people with clear diagnoses and found the comparison useful. His own condition remains a mystery, which makes him curious rather than anxious.
"You can't predict the future, and things like this can happen," he says. "But there's life after it happens. Groups like Here and Now Project are amazing. It's a new adventure."
Help Make the Next Introduction
Care packages are often a person's first introduction to the Here & Now Project. For Brian, it started with a care package that led to community.
Giving Tuesday is coming up on December 1: a global day of generosity that takes place the Tuesday after Thanksgiving. It’s a chance to support the communities and causes you care about as the year comes to a close.
This year, we’re inviting you to support The Here & Now Project and help make more connections like Brian’s possible.
Your gift helps sustain our care packages, peer support meetings, and community gatherings. These are opportunities for people living with spinal cord injury and mobility disabilities to meet others who understand aspects of their daily lives and bring their own knowledge to the conversation.
Whether you give $15, $50, or $150, your support helps keep these opportunities accessible and our outreach consistent, so more people can find their own way into the community.
Mark your calendar for December 1 or make your Giving Tuesday gift today.
Looking for ways to connect? Visit our Events page to explore upcoming meetings and community gatherings.
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