2008 Woodie Awards
Levi White takes 'Another step toward normalcy'
Joe Wilbert
Issue date: 10/10/07 Section: Life
- Page 1 of 1
"When I was in high school, I had a manual wheel chair. People would stare at me for obvious reasons. So just to be funny, I put spinners on my chair," Levi White joked.
White, 18, a first year student at Lorain County Community College, was born with Spina Bifida, a birth defect where the spinal chord doesn't completely form.
"To put it in a nutshell, I was born with a hole in my spinal column," White explained.
However, White is one of the lucky ones. He explained that the higher the defect is located on the spinal cord, the bigger the disability could be.
White's sister wasn't so lucky. She was also born with Spina Bifida. Unfortunately, her defect was more severe, and she is confined to a wheel chair. Their great grandfather was also born with Spina Bifida.
White, who uses a power wheel chair because of LCCC's big campus, is able to walk, but only short distances. He has no feeling from his knees to his toes.
The birth defect also caused his anklebones to not align correctly. When he was younger he needed to get surgery after surgery to align his ankles as close as possible.
"It was just another step towards normalcy," White said, referring to the surgeries.
Besides his disability, White is a normal college student. He plans on majoring in Journalism, and possibly Photojournalism.
Some of his favorite bands include Staind, Atreyu, Plain White T's, and Panic at the Disco. White also enjoys the author Jules Verne, and plays trumpet as a hobby.
He feels the campus here is laid back. "It's not so in your face like high school."
White, who graduated from Southview High School, earned a $930 scholarship from Southview High School and Lifeshare Blood Blank for his participation on the debate team in high school.
After White receives his Associates Degree, he plans on transferring to Kent State University for his Bachelors.
White's long-term goal in life is to have his writing published.
White, 18, a first year student at Lorain County Community College, was born with Spina Bifida, a birth defect where the spinal chord doesn't completely form.
"To put it in a nutshell, I was born with a hole in my spinal column," White explained.
However, White is one of the lucky ones. He explained that the higher the defect is located on the spinal cord, the bigger the disability could be.
White's sister wasn't so lucky. She was also born with Spina Bifida. Unfortunately, her defect was more severe, and she is confined to a wheel chair. Their great grandfather was also born with Spina Bifida.
White, who uses a power wheel chair because of LCCC's big campus, is able to walk, but only short distances. He has no feeling from his knees to his toes.
The birth defect also caused his anklebones to not align correctly. When he was younger he needed to get surgery after surgery to align his ankles as close as possible.
"It was just another step towards normalcy," White said, referring to the surgeries.
Besides his disability, White is a normal college student. He plans on majoring in Journalism, and possibly Photojournalism.
Some of his favorite bands include Staind, Atreyu, Plain White T's, and Panic at the Disco. White also enjoys the author Jules Verne, and plays trumpet as a hobby.
He feels the campus here is laid back. "It's not so in your face like high school."
White, who graduated from Southview High School, earned a $930 scholarship from Southview High School and Lifeshare Blood Blank for his participation on the debate team in high school.
After White receives his Associates Degree, he plans on transferring to Kent State University for his Bachelors.
White's long-term goal in life is to have his writing published.
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