My amazing family took a vacation last week to Myrtle Beach, SC. We told our boys that when they graduated high school, they could plan our next vacation (within reason…ha!). Connor graduated this past spring and he chose the beach (of course). Since we are dropping off our oldest at college in three short days, having a week where we could connect as a family was priceless.

Last summer Connor and I were going to go parasailing. The weather just wasn’t cooperating so we put it on the back burner for another time. This trip we decided we were going to try and fit it in. As I was looking at some of the sites, I noticed one particular site that seemed to be a bit “different” – in a great way! I asked TJ if he would want to go parasailing if we could make it happen. He said he’d love to go.

Immediately I regretted asking him. Not because I didn’t want him to go, but my mom-isms started surfacing – is he strong enough? Am I really going to let my child with multiple back fractures go parasailing in the ocean? What am I thinking? What if he gets tired? What if? What if? What if? Then my husband said something to me that brought me back down to why we asked him if he’d want to go in the first place. Craig said, “We need to let him get out of our comfort zone.”

So I watched all the videos on their website and then called to see how they would react when I said I have a child with muscular dystrophy who wants to go. I figured this was going to go one of two ways, neither of which was going to make me feel all warm and fuzzy. They would either say (1) “Yes! Of course, no problem!” which would have made me weary that they weren’t taking me seriously and giving it any thought past my money or (2) “Umm, we won’t be able to help you with that” which would have meant they didn’t’ even want to worry for a second about the liability or logistics to make it work. But when I called, I was given a third option I just wasn’t expecting. The sweet girl who answered the phone asked how many would be flying and I told her three but one was my son who had muscular dystrophy. She said “Ya know, I’m going to have you talk to one of our owners. I’m sure he’ll want to talk to you personally.” Umm…okay. I have to say at this point I was giving myself a pep talk that even though it seemed I was getting passed off to someone else who would tell us no, it was going to be okay and we’d find something else for TJ to do that day. Much to my surprise, that’s not what happened! Scotty came on and answered all of my questions. He even had a few of his own. Then he said, “If there’s a way, we’ll get him up there.” He said they are one of the only places that use a boat instead of a banana boat (long tube thing that looks like I’d go flying off at the first wave). He pointed out there videos to which I said I had already watched and totally “mommed up” their website. He suggested we go earlier in the day so it’s not as rough. And then he said he was going to pass me back to the sweet girl and get us set up for the next day. I had to go into the bathroom at that point so I could cry. I was just so happy that someone was going to try. Even if it didn’t happen, someone at least listened and was going to TRY and help us. That was what got me so emotional.

The next day, we went parasailing. Now, it’s never that simple. But I’m going to skip all the pesky Duchenne details that are our life. Because the bottom line is that we DID IT!!! And there wasn’t just one person that helped us. There were so many…from the girls suiting us up in a harness, to the guys who were in charge of pulling the boat onto shore, to the guy who took us out to the big boat, and then the guy who was driving the boat. Each person talked and explained what was going on to each other. Then they figured out what was the easiest and safest way to get TJ to the next stage. I loved watching it. One guy would say “I think *this* is easiest” but the next would say, “I think we should do it this way instead.” It was a serious issue and they were not only willing to help TJ, but they were excited to do it. So yes, I cried again.

Then we got to the boat. Connor, TJ and I were all harnessed in and we were told “See ya!” and we were off. TJ immediately started screaming. My thought was “Well, crap. That’s the shortest and most expensive boat ride of my life.” LOL! But his scream quickly turned into “THIS IS SO AWESOME!!!!”

After we came back and were getting ready to leave, Scotty came up to us and asked how it was and wanted to know if it all went okay. I said it did and just hugged him. This is something TJ has wanted to do but never expressed his desire to do it. He just didn’t think he’d be able to. But the crew at Atlantic Water Sports made it happen. Thank you just isn’t enough.

Connor and I have wanted to do this for several beach trips. And we got to go FINALLY! And TJ was able to check something off of his bucket list that he never thought would be able to be added to it in the first place.

Disclaimer on pictures: Out of 175 pictures, I could not find one where TJ actually looked like he was having fun (even though he was) or one where I was doing what I was told to do. Seriously, all I had to do was sit back in the harness. But noooooo, I was too excited to follow instructions so I look like an Umpa Loompa trying to stand in the harness. Connor naturally looks great and athletic in every single picture. Go figure. But here are some pics anyway! Yes, TJ was having fun and I was actually sitting even though it looks like I was trying to skydive out of it.

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  SO. MUCH. FUN.

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  This was the best picture I could find of all three of us.

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  Dad along for the ride!

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  Connor humoring mom.

Thank you to Scotty and the entire team at Atlantic Water Sports. You made an impact on our lives by just doing what you do.

Check them out on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/AtlanticWaterSportsNMB/ or their website at https://atlanticwatersports.net.