About a month ago I was watching the movie Dolphin Tale when I had one of those "ah hah" moments. Aside from my liking for dolphins I was drawn to the movie because it related to our community in so many ways. I encourage you all to watch the movie for yourself, but the basic gist of it entails a rescued dolphin named Winter trying to adjust to her new life after her tail was ripped off. Those who knew her just wouldn't give up on her, they wanted her to live the full life she deserved. (Oh and PS this is a true story!)

Further into the movie, a little girl who uses a wheelchair wanted to visit Winter at the aquarium. She felt she and the dolphin were alike. This is just one of so many who relate to Winter. And so, here is a story from Tampa Bay Online that explains another...

The man who wasn't supposed to walk met the dolphin that wasn't supposed to swim. Monday's encounter at the Clearwater Marine Aquarium was the latest evidence of Brock Mealer's faith.

"It's really cool, the connection that we feel,'' said Mealer, after petting and feeding Winter, the dolphin with the prosthetic tail that gained worldwide fame after a movie chronicled her comeback story. "She has such a zest for life. That's how I feel. You've got to take advantage of every single day.''

Five years ago, Mealer was paralyzed from the waist down during a crash that totaled his family's SUV. Doctors gave him a 1 percent chance of leaving his wheelchair. But they couldn't calculate long-term persistence.

On Dec. 22 – with no assistance – Mealer walked down the aisle with his bride, Haley, following their wedding in Archbold, Ohio.

Read the full story here.

So this feel-good Friday story is one to remember that reflects what Christopher Reeve always believed as we kick off the new year... Nothing is impossible.

Borrow Dolphin Tale from our Paralysis Resource Center Lending Library.

Janelle

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