While obstacles like cystic fibrosis, navigating in a wheelchair and losing a brother might hold some people back, Mahomet-Seymour senior Taylor Morefield is looking forward to using her life experiences to help others.
Born a triplet with spastic diplegic cerebral palsy, Morefield and her siblings Tucker and Tanner have spent much of their lives in wheelchairs. Tucker passed away in April 2012 when the triplets were 17.
Spastic diplegic means that Morefield’s muscles are very tight, especially from her waist down. Instead of walking heel to toe, Morefield walks toe to heel. When the triplets were born immaturely, a brain ventricle burst, causing Morefield to have a stroke.
Morefield wants to use growing up with a disability to reach others, especially children and young adults with spinal cord injuries and traumatic brain injuries.
Next fall, Morefield will travel two and a half hours away to attend Northern Illinois University (NIU) where she will study rehabilitation counseling.
“I’ve lived it,” she said. “I will be able to relate to the people that I’m working with on a deeper level. I might be able to coax some things out of them that an able bodied person wouldn’t be able to.”
Growing up with two siblings who were completely dependent on her parents to do everything for them, Morefield became an advocate for herself. She believes that her knowledge of resources within counseling, physical therapy and state funding programs will help get others the care they need.
“Without that, I wouldn’t be where I am,” she said.
Apprehensive about leaving home, Morefield fell in love with the student groups, academic departments and the transportation system at NIU.
“It was so nice to feel at home so far away from home,” she said.
Morefield will live in a new dorm on campus with 12 other girls. Her roommate will receive her LPN in July, so if Morefield falls down, she will be able to help.
Being able to access the bus system, which will allow her to get around campus while having the availability to go to stores off campus if she needs is key to Morefield. The newly developed security within NIU dorms helps Morefield feel safe.
A little over a week ago, Morefield received Kirby, a service dog from Illini Service Dogs.
While other organizations may charge thousands of dollars and take years to provide a service dog, Illini Service Dogs provides trained dogs to disabled people free of charge. Morefield started training with Kirby on his first birthday in October.
Illini Service dogs is a volunteer organization funded by donations.
After getting a service dog, recipients are required to give Illini Service Dogs monthly updates, and are responsible for the care of the dog. Illini Service Dogs provides training instruction for the life of the dog.
Getting a dog was not on Morefield’s radar until she saw a friend with a balance dog. Instead of using a cane or crutches, her friend was able to put her weight onto the dog while she walked.
Kirby provides balance for Morefield while providing security for her. Being away from home, she won’t have to worry if there is a person there to help her, she will be able to rely on Kirby in emergency situations.
“If I fall down, he can sense the change in my demeanor, and he automatically does what he needs to do to get me up,” she said. “I don’t even have to tell him to do it.”
A playful and kind dog, Kirby has also been known to defend his companion when he senses danger.
“One of his female trainers was walking with him down Green Street,” she said. “A homeless man started to follow her. Kirby snared, showed his teeth and growled. He could feel her tension because he was so close to her.”
As a child, especially in junior high, Morefield felt misunderstood because people’s demeanor changed when they saw her wheelchair. Morefield hopes that Kirby will help break that social barrier for her.
“He’ll obviously grant me many friends,” she said. “His trainer was a male, and a good way to pick up girls is to have a dog. I’m hoping that Kirby will change his tactics and pick up some guys.”
“I’m hoping that Kirby will help me educate people on the disabled community and service dogs in general because people don’t realize all the things service dogs can do,” she said. “There are many capacities that dogs can fulfill.”
The companionship that Kirby provides Morefield is similar to the friendships she’s formed with teachers at Mahomet-Seymour high school during her four years there. Morefield said she needed the empathy teachers showed her to get through high school.
Morefield said that she will take this lesson with her.
“Sometimes things just aren’t in your hands. Sometimes you have to believe in God and the whole process. Sometimes you have to leave it up to him. You can’t think about yourself. You have to think about the other person.
