This past Friday and Saturday, Nashville First had the opportunity to host Music City Trykes for their annual “Trykes Under the Tree” adaptive bike build and giveaway. This organization is a chapter of the national Ambucs organization, a group who strives to provide AmTykes adaptive tricycles to children who are otherwise unable to ride a regular bike. This event gathered volunteers from across middle Tennessee, including several of our own church members, to assemble the adaptive tricycles on Friday. Children and families then gathered on Saturday to receive and be fitted by therapists to each individual bike. The Legacy Fellowship Hall was filled with laughter and tears of joy as children were able to ride, most for the first time, around the room and take home their own personalized bike for Christmas.

 

Our church additionally had the opportunity to sponsor one of these bikes for seven-year-old Mark Ogorodnik. Mark suffered a traumatic brain injury earlier this year after falling from a tree. After months of extensive medical care in Nashville and out-of-state rehabilitation in Atlanta, Mark is now home with his parents and six siblings, continuing his journey to recovery. With this gift, Mark is able to continue his recovery through exercise while regaining pieces of normalcy through play with his family. Mark’s family are devout Christians who have blessed individuals throughout his medical journey with their devout faith, love, and persistent prayer. Their family’s story is a testimony of the healing power of the Lord, and they are incredibly thankful for the generosity of Nashville First Baptist Church.

Written by Kat Hedden PT, DPT