Thirty four years ago today, Kelsi Craven was born. I didn’t meet her until she was nine years old and my husband and I and our infant son moved into the house next door to the Cravens. Kelsi’s body was afflicted with muscular dystrophy which stole bits of her movement and body throughout her life but with determination and courage, she changed her disease from an affliction into a pulpit.
She graduated from Davis High School with honors, she graduated from seminary and in the evening I loved to hear the laughter and chatter of her teenage friends floating to our yard from the Craven’s back deck. Her determination was supported by the incredible effort of her family and by a devoted neighbor who was Kelsi’s aide at school and who I often caught walking through the early morning dark past my window when extra help for Kelsi was needed.
Duplicating that care away from home seemed impossible but as her friends prepared to go to college, Kelsi voiced her steel. “I would rather die than live with you and dad for the rest of my life,” she told her mother, and so her parents with deep love set aside their own fears and began to help her find a way. Kelsi graduated cum laude in social work from Utah State University where she served on the student council advocating for changes to make conventional education more attainable for people with disabilities. She was selected as the runner up for Miss Wheelchair Utah and had begun work on her Masters of Social Work at BYU when a car accident set in motion complications that took her life nine years ago.
Kelsi shared her own view of her life. “I used to stand, walk, ride horses and four wheelers and much more. Those eventually got taken away from me. Do I miss it? Of course. Do I dwell on the fact I can’t do some of the things I used to love? No. Why? It is a depressing waste of time that gets me no where in life. I am lucky to find much joy in what I can do….Go live and love the life you have. It’s the only one you will ever get on this earth, don’t waste that gift.”
Some testimonies are shared in word and some testimonies are lived. The power of God is made manifest not just through healing but through ordinary people whose faith and courage in their challenges allows goodness, hope, kindness, charity, and strength to radiate from them as well. “Live and Love the life you have” and just like Kelsi, God will make Himself manifest in you. (John 9:3)
Beautiful words, my friend … a lovely tribute to our sweet and determined young neighbor and her loving family.❤️