Rachael Bae
When you are young, it can be really tough dealing with a hard disability.
Hi, I’m Joni Eareckson Tada and I see it all the time. I meet these young people dealing with these life-threatening conditions and yet they exude such courage, hope, and joy…like Rachael Bae who has a great smile! She is 14 years old; has Ullrich muscular dystrophy, uses a wheelchair. This lady is amazing. Rachael welcome.
RACHAEL: Thank you.
JONI: I’m so glad you could be here. You are a lovely young woman, a 14-year-old to look at but I know you have challenges. Why don’t you tell us about them?
RACHAEL: Up until fourth grade I could walk, but then when I entered fifth grade walking became even more difficult, even using a walker. When sixth grade rolled around, I began using a manual wheelchair. Presently I can move my arms and my legs to some extent, but my hands are probably stronger than both combined.
JONI: Okay, there is a lot you can’t do, but there is a lot that you also do. I hear you are a straight A student, on the National Junior Honor Society, just graduated from Junior High and they gave you the Champion of Character Award. That’s pretty awesome. You must have had some priorities straight in your life, don’t you?
RACHAEL: Yes. From a young age my parents always told me to do well in school just because they would get me a good future, but first and foremost it would be pleasing to God.
JONI: So you know Jesus Christ as your Savior.
RACHAEL: Yes.
JONI: And when did that happen?
RACHAEL: I grew up in a Christian family. My parents are Christian. And so my whole life I have been a Christian and so I think from the beginning once my parents began teaching me about Him.
JONI: You know your need of Him, don’t you? Now what is that I hear about a Jesus video that you share with people?
RACHAEL: When I was younger my friends would come over fairly often and not all of them were Christians. So I would show them this animated movie called “The Jesus Movie.” It was just this movie that began at His birth and ended with His resurrection.
JONI: Now wait a minute, how old were you when you showed this movie to your friends?
RACHAEL: I think I was maybe seven.
JONI: A seven-year-old has a heart for evangelism. Oh my goodness! Good for you Rachael. Now, I hear that you also sing and you have a lovely voice. What is this about an album of songs that you have done?
RACHAEL: It’s a single album and my mom actually wrote the song on an airplane. It’s called “Grace” and we just recently came out with it.
JONI: Fun! Well, since I know that you sing, we have to sing something together right now for our listening friends. How about “Amazing Grace?” Can we do it?
JONI/RACHAEL: ‘Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me. I once was lost but now I’m found; was blind but now I see.’
JONI: I just had to give up because it’s so wonderful just listening to your voice, not mine. Your parents must be something else. Tell us about your relationship with your mom and dad.
RACHAEL: They are amazing, for lack of a better word, and I don’t know what I would do without them. They are two of my most main role models.
JONI: What would you say to young people your age today. How would you encourage them? Not necessarily young people with a disability like yours, but any typical kid?
RACHAEL: I would say: Trust in the Lord. He is good. He is perfect and He loves you so much and He is all you need.
JONI: Well, you know, listening to you, watching you with your smile, sitting in that wheelchair of yours, our friends listening just have to go to joniradio.org to see a photo of you Rachael, because your smile is simply contagious. Thank you for being here today.
RACHAEL: Thank you for having me.
JONI: Friend listening, if you would like to learn more about this remarkable young woman who does not let her wheelchair get in her way, then go to joniradio.org. We are providing a link to her Facebook page which highlights an album of songs that she recently recorded. Rachael, keep at it okay?
RACHAEL: Well, thank you.
© Joni and Friends
