Other people might not consider Bronwyn Berg and Hal Bennett lucky.

Berg and Bennett would disagree.

They consider themselves lucky to be able to open an inclusive new business in a new town, providing accessible service to people who need it. They are lucky to have found each other.

And they are lucky to have once needed the same wheelchair.

Berg, 50 and Bennett, 48, both had life-changing experiences. Berg sustained a brain injury six years ago that resulted in a seizure, movement and balance disorder. Bennett underwent a kidney transplant six years ago and leg amputations a year later due to infections.

Berg had been studying creative writing at the UBC campus in Kelowna. Bennett was just out of hospital and living in Kamloops. They had each been wheelchair shopping and fell in love with the same chair. It can take a long time for a custom-fit wheelchair to arrive, so the company allowed them to share the chair as a loaner.

香蕉视频直播淢y publishing career was just taking off, but I was unable to give literary readings without the loaner chair, which a mysterious guy in Kamloops got 香蕉视频直播榮tealing,香蕉视频直播櫹憬妒悠抵辈�� noted Berg.

When they met for the first time, they recognized each other through the wheelchair he was 香蕉视频直播渟tealing.香蕉视频直播�

Bennett was instantly interested in Berg. She was interested in remaining single. They claim it took Berg four months to give him her phone number, though they talked on Facebook Messenger regularly.

香蕉视频直播淲e were going through the same thing at the time, adjusting to living in a world not designed for us. It was a very bonding experience,香蕉视频直播� Berg said. 香蕉视频直播淎ll went from there, we became best friends and then we became a couple.香蕉视频直播�

香蕉视频直播淪he香蕉视频直播檚 a breath of fresh air, that香蕉视频直播檚 for sure,香蕉视频直播� said Bennett. 香蕉视频直播淵ou know when you meet someone there香蕉视频直播檚 more here.香蕉视频直播�

They lived together for about a year in Kelowna before coming to Chemainus to launch the Clover (as in 香蕉视频直播榝our-leaf clover,香蕉视频直播� get it) Clothing Co. They opened the store 香蕉视频直播� which also includes some new clothing 香蕉视频直播� at the Chemainus Public Market on Aug. 1, securing one of the last two available market spaces.

香蕉视频直播淲ho opens a store during a pandemic?香蕉视频直播� Berg queried. 香蕉视频直播淲e do. I definitely felt like Chemainus needed a consignment store.香蕉视频直播�

香蕉视频直播淧eople love to go treasure hunting so there香蕉视频直播檚 a bit of that as well. We香蕉视频直播檝e been talking about doing a consignment shop for years. It wasn香蕉视频直播檛 the right timing and I was basically housebound for five years.香蕉视频直播�

They stumbled upon the opportunity almost by accident, driving around Vancouver Island and being impressed by the accessibility of Chemainus.

香蕉视频直播淲hy are there ramps everywhere?香蕉视频直播� Berg said with delight. 香蕉视频直播淲e felt like we were in Disneyland. Aside from a few stores, everything香蕉视频直播檚 accessible.香蕉视频直播�

And there香蕉视频直播檚 also the aspect of turning up something special for shoppers.

香蕉视频直播淎 lot of disabled people struggle financially,香蕉视频直播� Berg indicated. 香蕉视频直播淎nd yet many consignment stores aren香蕉视频直播檛 wheelchair accessible. We are passionate about accessibility. We wouldn香蕉视频直播檛 do it unless we could have a location that was inclusive to everyone. The Chemainus Public Market was a unique opportunity. They already had a flat entrance, automatic door openers and an accessible bathroom. All that we added was a wheelchair accessible change room.

They香蕉视频直播檝e been through a lot, but finding each other has helped endure the difficult days and prepare them for this new chapter.

香蕉视频直播淚t was very life-altering,香蕉视频直播� Berg said of her injury. 香蕉视频直播淭here香蕉视频直播檚 lots of grieving that needs to be done, but then you get to a point of acceptance. People see the wheelchair and feel sad. I香蕉视频直播檓 not the least bit sad about the wheelchair. Before I had the wheelchair I was crawling around and gripping walls.

香蕉视频直播淚香蕉视频直播檓 definitely a survivor,香蕉视频直播� she added. 香蕉视频直播淗al and I don香蕉视频直播檛 feel bad about our lives. We definitely have challenges. I can香蕉视频直播檛 work every day and had to give up my academic pursuits and career as a writer.香蕉视频直播�

香蕉视频直播淲e香蕉视频直播檙e extremely lucky to have found each other. It can be a very isolating life. To go through disability with a partner is amazing. Our disabilities are different. We香蕉视频直播檙e able to care for each other without it ever being a burden. We never treat each other like we香蕉视频直播檙e a burden.香蕉视频直播�

Bennett was a Type 1 diabetic from the age of three. Complications from the diabetes eventually killed his kidneys. He went on dialysis 11 years ago and eventually had the transplant. The amputations of his legs below both knees were required five years ago.

He still uses a wheelchair as well, but the incredible improvements made over the years can be seen in his prosthetics, with ease of movement and different components used in their construction like carbon fibre.

香蕉视频直播淢y attitude tends to be fairly productive,香蕉视频直播� he said. 香蕉视频直播淚 hate the word 香蕉视频直播榩ositive.香蕉视频直播� I like to see the wonder in things and live for the moment. If I香蕉视频直播檓 not at the store, I香蕉视频直播檓 on the slopes.香蕉视频直播�

香蕉视频直播淲e feel lucky to have found a town that has been so accessible, a business where we can offer an inclusive experience,香蕉视频直播� Berg said. 香蕉视频直播淎nd we香蕉视频直播檙e lucky to have found each other.香蕉视频直播�

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