The world was made for able-bodied people. And those of us who don’t have mobility issues hardly even notice.

It’s only when we – or a loved one – have to navigate the world with a disability that we see just how hard everyday moments can be.

Vinita “G’ma” Booker no longer takes this for granted. She’s now caring for her teenage grandson Kristian, who has cerebral palsy. Kristian is confined to a wheelchair and even requires his food to be pureed so he can swallow it.

Unfortunately, Booker’s home isn’t accessible, which means the 12 steps in front of her house are quite an impediment to daily tasks with Kristian.

She not only had to carry her 65-pound grandson up and down those stairs every time they leave the house, but she also has to carry his wheelchair too.

“It’s 12 stairs that I hoist him up on my shoulders and hold him tight,” Booker told KSDK News.

But like many grandmothers, Booker has no complaints.

“Every day I look at him, he’s a joy. He’s happy. I’m happy to be the one to take care of him,” she said.

Booker’s daughter was unable to care for the boy, so G’ma took on the responsibility of being his primary caregiver. She does have the occasional help of a nurse, but the heavy lifting (quite literally) falls on her shoulders.

That was in 2018.

When Booker’s story aired on local news and then went viral, a GoFundMe she had set up raised over $18,000 to help make life easier for the pair.

But she didn’t have to spend any of that money on a ramp.

When the PARIC Corporation saw the story of the woman carrying her grandson up and down those stairs, they offered to build her a ramp for free.

“I heard the story and I immediately wanted to help,” PARIC’s Bill Willman told KSDK.

When he was interviewed by ABC10, he said it was clear to him that he had to help.

“Right the second I saw it, and knowing the struggles they were going through to get that done, I thought ‘I don’t understand what the big deal is. We’re going to go there and talk to them and get a ramp on the back and get him, so she doesn’t have to carry him down those steps anymore,’” Willman said.

They quickly applied for the necessary permits and completed the project in three weeks.

G’ma was thrilled.

“It’s life-changing for Kristian. I just love it. I’m so happy,” she said.

Now the money she raised on GoFundMe can go towards another big and necessary project – creating a wheelchair-accessible bathroom in their home.

“We want to do a wheelchair accesible walk-in tub for Kristian and whatever other things he’s going to need to help get him around,” Booker explained. “He’s happy and it’s my mission in life to just keep him that way.”

It’s pretty clear that Kristian has one of the best grandmothers around – and the love between the two is obvious.

Booker was overwhelmed by the support she received from people in her community.

Be sure to scroll down below to see G’ma and Kristian’s story.

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Source: KSDK News, GoFundMe, KSDK News (follow-up), ABC 10 News via Facebook