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.

91裸聊视频淢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 91裸聊视频榮tealing,91裸聊视频�91裸聊视频� noted Berg.

When they met for the first time, they recognized each other through the wheelchair he was 91裸聊视频渟tealing.91裸聊视频�

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.

91裸聊视频淲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,91裸聊视频� Berg said. 91裸聊视频淎ll went from there, we became best friends and then we became a couple.91裸聊视频�

91裸聊视频淪he91裸聊视频檚 a breath of fresh air, that91裸聊视频檚 for sure,91裸聊视频� said Bennett. 91裸聊视频淵ou know when you meet someone there91裸聊视频檚 more here.91裸聊视频�

They lived together for about a year in Kelowna before coming to Chemainus to launch the Clover (as in 91裸聊视频榝our-leaf clover,91裸聊视频� get it) Clothing Co. They opened the store 91裸聊视频� which also includes some new clothing 91裸聊视频� at the Chemainus Public Market on Aug. 1, securing one of the last two available market spaces.

91裸聊视频淲ho opens a store during a pandemic?91裸聊视频� Berg queried. 91裸聊视频淲e do. I definitely felt like Chemainus needed a consignment store.91裸聊视频�

91裸聊视频淧eople love to go treasure hunting so there91裸聊视频檚 a bit of that as well. We91裸聊视频檝e been talking about doing a consignment shop for years. It wasn91裸聊视频檛 the right timing and I was basically housebound for five years.91裸聊视频�

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

91裸聊视频淲hy are there ramps everywhere?91裸聊视频� Berg said with delight. 91裸聊视频淲e felt like we were in Disneyland. Aside from a few stores, everything91裸聊视频檚 accessible.91裸聊视频�

And there91裸聊视频檚 also the aspect of turning up something special for shoppers.

91裸聊视频淎 lot of disabled people struggle financially,91裸聊视频� Berg indicated. 91裸聊视频淎nd yet many consignment stores aren91裸聊视频檛 wheelchair accessible. We are passionate about accessibility. We wouldn91裸聊视频檛 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.

They91裸聊视频檝e been through a lot, but finding each other has helped endure the difficult days and prepare them for this new chapter.

91裸聊视频淚t was very life-altering,91裸聊视频� Berg said of her injury. 91裸聊视频淭here91裸聊视频檚 lots of grieving that needs to be done, but then you get to a point of acceptance. People see the wheelchair and feel sad. I91裸聊视频檓 not the least bit sad about the wheelchair. Before I had the wheelchair I was crawling around and gripping walls.

91裸聊视频淚91裸聊视频檓 definitely a survivor,91裸聊视频� she added. 91裸聊视频淗al and I don91裸聊视频檛 feel bad about our lives. We definitely have challenges. I can91裸聊视频檛 work every day and had to give up my academic pursuits and career as a writer.91裸聊视频�

91裸聊视频淲e91裸聊视频檙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. We91裸聊视频檙e able to care for each other without it ever being a burden. We never treat each other like we91裸聊视频檙e a burden.91裸聊视频�

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.

91裸聊视频淢y attitude tends to be fairly productive,91裸聊视频� he said. 91裸聊视频淚 hate the word 91裸聊视频榩ositive.91裸聊视频� I like to see the wonder in things and live for the moment. If I91裸聊视频檓 not at the store, I91裸聊视频檓 on the slopes.91裸聊视频�

91裸聊视频淲e feel lucky to have found a town that has been so accessible, a business where we can offer an inclusive experience,91裸聊视频� Berg said. 91裸聊视频淎nd we91裸聊视频檙e lucky to have found each other.91裸聊视频�

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