Paraplegic man who thought he would never be a dad turns his wheelchair adventures with his six-year-old daughter into a children’s book
A man who thought he’d never have kids has chronicled the adventures he and his daughter have in his wheelchair, to give hope to parents with disabilities.
When Glen Dick, 47, from Chalfont, Pennsylvania was paralysed after suffering a spinal cord injury in 1995, he thought his dreams of becoming a father were over.
But in 2010, five years after getting hitched to his wife Monica, 35, the delighted couple welcomed their first child Elaina.
Glen credits his six-year-old girl with giving him a new love of life and proving that parenting is possible with a disability.
Together, the fun-loving pair are able to travel the country, go sledding, hiking, kayaking and much more.
And now the Glen has turned their real-life wheelchair adventures into a new children’s book called, We Can Go Anywhere: My Adventures On Daddy’s Chair.
Heart-warming lines in the book read: ‘This is my Daddy, he has a wheelchair.
I know it may look like a wheelchair. But when I am on his lap, we can go anywhere.’
Elaina said: ‘When I ride on daddy’s chair, I get to go really fast.
‘We go on really fun adventures through the woods, to the playground and sometimes he even lets me drive.
Glen added: ‘This book illustrates love, optimism and imagination in a new way.
We Can Go Anywhere: My Adventures On Daddy’s Chair ($13.95, Amazon.com)
‘I am so happy that the book, which was inspired by the unique relationship I have with my daughter, is showing both children and adults to look past their limitations.
‘It shows people coming back from wars, or people with spinal-cord injuries that this is possible.’
When Glen broke his neck aged 25, while on holiday with pals, he thought he would never become a father.
But after meeting his wife, Monica, online and getting married the following year, the couple fought to conceive.
When Elaina was born, they rested their baby on specially fitted nursing pillow on her father’s lap and once she was big enough, she was harnessed to her father chest.
Monica said: ‘I love watching Glen and Elaina together. They have such a special, unique bond that is so different from most father-daughter relationships.
‘He teaches her while she has the opportunity to help him with physical tasks.
‘They have learned so much from each other and have lots of laughs together too.’
While Elaina helps her father with everyday tasks, she herself loves nothing more than ridding around with him on his chair.
The daddy-daughter duo will be visiting rehab hospitals, donating copies of the book to spread hope to disabled parents.
By Siofra Brennan For Mailonline
We Can Go Anywhere: My Adventures On Daddy’s Chair
Available at Amazon.com $13.95
