Some wishes are about adventure. Others are about something as simple – and essential – as being able to safely get into the water. That's the story behind a very special Make-A-Wish Oklahoma project completed on August 15 in Lawton, Oklahoma, for 9-year-old Bobbie Johns.
A Family's Fight for Access
Bobbie lives with spastic quadriplegic cerebral palsy. Two years ago, he began swim therapy, and his family quickly saw the difference it made – improved mobility, comfort, and quality of life. The results were significant enough that Make-A-Wish Oklahoma granted Bobbie's wish: an above-ground pool installed at his own home, so he could continue that therapy whenever he needed it.
However, because of the height of the pool wall and Bobbie's physical limitations, it was difficult for his parents to safely lift him over the side and into the water. The pool that was supposed to bring relief and progress was, instead, out of reach.
Robert, Bobbie's father, is a disabled veteran who served eight years in the Marine Corps and four years in the Army before being medically discharged due to injury. Like so many military families, the Johns family faced more than their share of challenges – but their commitment to giving Bobbie every opportunity to thrive never wavered.
Bringing the Right People Together
Make-A-Wish Oklahoma connected with Chris Leckman of HomeWorks Handyman Services to find a solution. Chris then reached out to EZ-ACCESS's area sales manager for help making the pool truly accessible for Bobbie.
Because the pool was partially in-ground and partially above-ground, a standard, off-the-shelf solution wouldn't cut it. The project called for a custom-configured accessibility ramp built to fit the pool's unique structure. Our PATHWAY® 3G Modular Access System is designed for exactly this kind of challenge – its modular components can be arranged in virtually unlimited configurations to match a home's (or in this case, a pool's) specific layout and elevation changes.
To make it happen, our Area Sales Manager reached out to stocking dealers across Oklahoma to see who might be willing to help. The response was overwhelming: every single dealer contacted said yes, donating all the ramp materials needed to bring Bobbie's solution to life.
On Saturday, despite the extreme summer heat, the team – including Bobbie’s father – came together to install the ramp. Afterward, Robert shared what the project meant to his family:
"I don't know how we would be able to continue his swim therapy at home if it wasn't for this ramp. You all have helped our family more than you realize. We cannot thank you enough for what you have done for us and what your company does for others."
Bobbie's mother later reached out to Chris again by email, thanking him for helping make her son's wish possible and sharing how thrilled she was with how everything turned out.
More Than a Ramp
This project was never just about building a ramp. It was about giving a little boy safe, reliable access to something that has made a real difference in his life, and giving his family the ability to continue his therapy at home, on their own time, without barriers.
It's a powerful reminder of what's possible when people and companies come together for the right reasons – a value at the heart of who we are at EZ-ACCESS. Every dealer donation, no matter the size, added up to something life-changing for one Oklahoma family.
With Gratitude
We're incredibly thankful to everyone who donated materials, time, labor, and resources to make Bobbie's wish come true, including:
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101 Mobility of Tulsa/OKC
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Madison Medical – Fairfax, OK
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Oklahoma Advantage Storehouse – Tulsa, OK
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Mobility One Transportation – Tulsa, OK
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HomeWorks Handyman Services – Wichita Falls, TX
To every dealer, partner, and individual who played a part in this project — thank you. Stories like Bobbie's are why we do what we do.
Have a unique access challenge at home? Explore our full line of residential accessibility ramps or contact our team to talk through a custom configuration.