Infinite Difference
By Ashley Henegar
I once knew a man named Ron who went with the Lord just short of his 56th birthday. Ron was my grandfather's best friend since they were small children. He never had any disabilities until he was 19 years old. I've seen pictures and heard stories about Ron, and I have to say that he was very nice looking and an outstanding athlete. Ron liked to drink and have a good time with his friends. The big thing back then was to race cars on small, two lane roads. One night, after having too much to drink, Ron began his Friday night racing with his friends. Needless to say, he flipped the car several times and went over an embankment. That Friday night, unlike all the others, was the night Ron's life changed forever. He was paralyzed from the waist down and remained in a wheelchair until he died in the summer of 2004.
I met Ron as a child and felt he was very kind and loving. I couldn't believe he was the loud, partying guy who everyone described him to be, but then again, that was when he was a teenager. I always wondered if Ron thought about the way his life had turned out. When Ron was my age, I'm sure he wouldn't have dreamed that he would live the rest of his life in a wheelchair. He didn't seem to show his sadness or anger towards his disability, but I was sad for him. He didn't get to experience any of the opportunities of going from a teenager to an adult. He couldn't think about a career or having a family. All he had was his parents and a few loyal friends. He lived with his parents and they cared for him throughout his life. Ron became sick with pneumonia, which ended his life. His parents buried their only child just short of his 56th birthday. I saw the pictures of Ron when he was a teenager; he was so handsome and healthy. Then I came to know him and saw how his life changed because of drinking and acting carelessly. His disability taught me how fast life can change.
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