Ryan Weimer
Website (Magic Wheelchair)
I’m just a regular dude, a nurse, a father, husband, a nerd and founder of a non-profit that builds EPIC costumes for kiddos in wheelchairs!!! I look at life through eyes that try to see the best in all. I cling to hope and happiness and know that no matter what comes my way if I just hang onto my faith, do right and good, things will work out the way they are supposed to. That’s me a simple regular dude. I love life! -Ryan Weimer
Magic of Hope with Ryan Weimer #isharehope Episode 76
Summary: Ryan’s answer to the five questions! Listen to the full conversation on the player above; also available on iTunes and Stitcher.
Question 1: How do you define hope or what is your favorite quote about hope?
Ryan Weimer:
My faith is my rock. Christ said something, basically that he’s overcome the world and that we can take hope and courage that if we follow him that we can do the same.
He says, “In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer for I have overcome the world”.
That’s my hope that through Christ, through my faith that really no matter the circumstances, I can overcome tribulation, trial and become better at giving back. That’s what trials are for – it’s to help build us up and help us to be better people and better to give.
Question 2: Who has shared the most hope with you?
Ryan Weimer:
My parents have really set a great example of hope and have role modeled to me how to respond when times are tough and when times are great. Just holding on to that faith and continuing to do good and strive to do good despite circumstances.
My wife, we’ve been through some rough times and she’s solid. Great support.
Question 3: How have you used hope to make it through a difficult time in your life?
Ryan Weimer:
I have five children and three of them have been born with spinal muscular atrophy. We have 75% chance of having healthy children and for some reason that wasn’t in the cards until our final child is healthy. We’re okay with whatever child we were given. People say “how come you kept having children?” That’s pretty crazy. My children, we feel that’s a way we can give back. We can help raise children and have a good impact on the world. My daughter, she passed away about a week shy of her third birthday. I don’t know if there’s anything harder than losing a child. I wouldn’t wish that on the foulest person on the earth.
That was the hardest time of my life and yet in those very moments of grief, that really cuts the core, I find hope. I know that I’ll see my daughter again. I know that she’s in a place where she’s not disabled anymore. I have this image of her running and jumping and dancing.
I continually find hope. I’m never without hope because of what I know and because of my faith. I always have hope. It’s a reality to me. No matter what comes, I just hold on to my faith and do what I know is right and good and reach out to others that things will work out however they’re supposed to work out. It’s not always my ideal but it’s someone’s ideal who is far smarter than me.
Question 4: How are you sharing hope today?
Ryan Weimer:
I just try to share with people that life is a beautiful, beautiful thing. You don’t always have control of your circumstances around you but you do have a choice of how you deal with those circumstances and you really are the master of your own destiny in the choices that you make. We can choose to become better people and we can choose to become a better, positive influence on our communities and society by making good, wholesome choices. It just goes back to choice. I really feel that we have this beautiful ability to choose despite circumstances. We have the ability to choose hope and progress and growth as opposed to the alternatives – sadness and hopelessness and giving up.
Question 5: How should I (the listener) begin to grow in hope or share hope today?
Ryan Weimer:
(1) Find some things you’re good at that can impact your community for good.
(2) Worry less of yourself and think about others.
(3) Know you have a choice to be positive.
