PRYOR Brandon Mendenhall looks back now, and he understands his grandfathers motives. Mendenhall is the founder and guitarist of The Mendenhall Experiment, which is scheduled to perform at 11:30 p.m. Saturday on the AXiS Entertainment Campground Stage at the Rocklahoma music festival in Pryor. Many years ago, Mendenhall might have needed the assistance of a walker or braces to be able to navigate his way around a stage. Now he gets around just fine, thanks in part to nine corrective surgeries. Mendenhall has cerebral palsy, a neurological disorder that sabotages muscle control and motor function. Never mind all that, Mendenhall decided when he was a kid he wanted to be in a rock band. Of course, he was met with a chorus of You cant do that. I heard that all day, every day, he said, adding that people told him he couldnt be this or that because his body wasnt cut out for it. Then when it came time when I had an interest in music, some doctors told my grandparents that it would be impossible for me to play an instrument. So they forbid me to do that until I was old enough to be rebellious to say, … Continue reading →

COLUMBIANA, Ohio (WKBN) An extraordinary Columbiana High School student graduated with honors last week, despite several challenges and spending most of her life in and out of hospitals. Lexi Krosky was born with cerebralpalsy, is legally blind, and lives her life in a wheelchair. Shes been in the hospital, shes had more surgeries than birthdays, so theres still a lot of scary stuff, days that we have, said her mother, Rachel Krosky. But last Sunday, after being named to the National Honor Society, Lexi graduated from Columbiana High School with honors. Lexi worked very hard in high school, she studied a lot. Its important for her to do well, Rachel said. She also fit right in and was a cheerleader all four years. The fans are amazing. If shes not there, theyre asking if shes okay and shes healthy because they worry about her, Rachel said. Lexis mother only had good things to say about Columbiana Schools. When she walks to the door, she got 20 football players opening the doors for her. Its so beautiful, so much love there. The high school grad has also worked to improve the quality of life for other people with disabilities. Lexi likes … Continue reading →

WEST CHESTER, Pa. (NBC 10) A man was caught on camera mocking and sucker punching a person with cerebral palsy outside a West Chester, Pennsylvania 7-Eleven store, according to investigators. Police say Barry Baker, 29, of Coatesville, was with his friends at a 7-Eleven store on 200 South High Street in West Chester back on May 10 around 2:30 a.m. At the same time a 22-year-old man with cerebral palsy drove into the parking lot of the store and parked his vehicle. As he got out and went into the 7-Eleven, Baker began making fun of him and mocking how he walked, investigators said. When the victim got back out of the store, Baker mocked him again and began to imitate how he moved, according to police. As the victim stood in front of his vehicle, Baker sucker punched him in the face, according to police. He then fled around the corner of the store. Police say the entire ordeal was captured on surveillance video. The defendants actions in this case are appalling, West Chester Police Chief Scott Bohn said. You wonder what would make an individual treat somebody like that. The victim called police and Baker was later arrested … Continue reading →

As a young woman in her 20s,Christina Smallwood had been just trying to get rid of a few pimples. Prescribed the medication Accutane to treat her acne, she never thought twice about what long-term effectsit might have until she and her husband Josh had trouble conceiving a baby after getting married. She was shocked to discover that there is a suspected link between Accutane and the Diminished Ovary Reserves condition she was diagnosed with, leaving her witha low chance of conceiving naturally. Now 32, Smallwood, a hairstylist, and her husband, Josh, 32, a project manager from Eastvale, CA, are the proud parents of a 3-year-old daughter, Finley, through an open adoption. And Finley, like their own story, is anything but ordinary. Despite a normal pregnancy, Finleys birth mother went into labor prematurely and the baby was born via an emergency C-section at only 31 weeks gestation.The first time she laid eyes on her daughter, Smallwood remembers, was a magical moment. I stared at her in the little incubator and was crying and stroking the glass, promising her the world, she says. Ill never forget telling my husband, Im sure every parent says this, but I feel like this little girl … Continue reading →