CP Ain't Stopping Me
Jennifer and John Harrison had 6 children already when they fell in love with newborn Zoey while volunteering to hold babies at the hospital. They brought her home at 47 days old, she was officially adopted into the family at 1 year old, and at 2 and half Zoey was diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy.
Zoey, 10, attended public school from Pre-K through 4th Grade before switching to homeschooling this year. Jennifer explains that public school seems to be set up so that children who are different can’t succeed.
While still in public school, during recess in the colder months Zoey would have blankets over her lap to keep her warm, but had problems with them sliding out of place or falling. To solve this Jennifer designed and made Zoey her own body coat. A video of Jennifer putting the coat on Zoey went viral and now the Harrisons run a business called X Ability where they make and sell bodycoats for those in wheelchairs. Zoey sometimes helps deliver the coats to customers.
Today, though Zoey was originally supposed to be the Harrison’s last child, 4 younger siblings have been added to the family. This includes Bristol, 7, the closest in age to Zoey and who she shares a room with. She helps Zoey with a lot of tasks like doing her doll’s hair. Zoey loves American Girl dolls, crafts, cats, and baby dolls. She even has a baby stroller that can attach to the front of her wheelchair so she can push her babies around with her.
Zoey Harrison, 10, is pulled up a step by her eldest sister, Coralyn, 24, on Wednesday, December 4 in St. Louis, MI. The sisters volunteer at D-Tails Dog and Cat Grooming about once a week and Zoey's wheelchair has to be lifted up two steps to get inside. The owner, Dalis Hitchcock, says when she upgrades to a better building she's going to make sure there's a ramp for Zoey.
Zoey is handed a cat by Coralyn while volunteering at D-Tails Dog and Cat Grooming. Zoey cuddles the cats while Coralyn scoops the litter boxes.
Harrison has an electric wheelchair that even allows her to adjust the hieght she wants to sit at. She has a second, smaller, not electric wheelchair she sometimes uses when she travels.
Bristol Harrison, 7, helps Zoey lower the front of her wheelchair so she can slide out and climb the stairs to her bedroom in Ithica, MI. Bristol helps Zoey with activities involving finer muscle movements, like doing her doll's hair when they play.
Jennifer Harrison writes down the answers Zoey gives for a math test on fractions. This is Zoey's first year trying homceschooling instead of public school. "It's like public school is set up for anyone different to fail," says Jennifer.
Zoey acts as a judge for Bristol's gymnastics performance in their bedroom. The Harrison's recently added a fire escape to the girls' second-story bedroom so Zoey can get out faster in case of an emergency.
Harrison climbs the stairs to her bedroom. Though she cannot walk, Harrison can get up stairs and around her bedroom by crawling.