From the heartbreak of being a “throw away baby” to Paralympic Gold, Mark Braun understands the value of “team.” He can walk for only short distances, but he can run!
Transcript
Mark Braun: I was born in Jamaica to unknown parents. My birth mom had thrown me away, less than one year old, and a police officer walked his beat, heard my cry, and rescued me.
Host: This is Keep Moving Forward.
George H.W. Bush: Let the shameful wall of exclusion finally come tumbling down.
Host: Exploring the legacy and promise of the Americans with Disabilities Act.
Mark Braun: My name is Mark Braun. I am a US Paralympic athlete with Team USA. I am a head program coach, and I am a motivational speaker.
I was born with spina bifida, that is my birth defect, congenital. I am an L4-5, the level of paralysis that I have, so I'm able to walk, but only for short distance. Spina bifida is where your spine is exposed, it's basically you can see everything, and so they have to do corrective surgery to close that, but all the nerves don't connect, and your spine is out of whack as well.
I love my parents because they are the most amazing parents. If it wasn't for them I wouldn't be here. If it wasn't for the team of doctors or people that took a vested interest in my adoption process I would not be here.
Host: Keep Moving Forward is supported by The Minnesota Council on Disability, The Minnesota Humanities Center and the Minnesota Arts & Cultural Heritage Fund, online at Ampers.org.