The Mowing Story

Tommy loves to mow. Will you help get Tommy set up with a little mowing business?

When Tommy suffered a traumatic birth, the doctors weren’t sure what Tommy’s life would be like. Seven years later, Tommy is a spunky little guy living with cerebral palsy. The brain injury that resulted in cerebral palsy also stunted his ability to communicate.

Through a handful of signs that his family and therapists have helped him develop, Tommy is able to tell us little bits about what he’s thinking and wanting. And while his communication is really limited, one thing comes through loud and clear: Tommy loves to mow the lawn. Like, really loves to mow.

If you want to see how much Tommy loves to mow, watch this short video of him mowing.

It’s too difficult for Tommy to walk behind the push mower, so his dad lets him ride on his shoulders. They’ve been mowing the lawn like this since Tommy was two. And Tommy lives for his weekly opportunity to mow. It’s one of the few things he responds to and looks forward to.

Since there are so few things that Tommy can do, and even fewer that he really enjoys, we want to give Tommy more opportunities to mow. So, we’re going to set Tommy up with a riding lawn mower and a little mowing business of his own! The riding lawn mower is needed since Tommy can’t walk behind the push mower and he’s getting a little big to be riding on his dad’s shoulders. And the business will give Tommy lots of opportunity to mow throughout the week. Since mowing is literally his favorite thing, this will bring so much joy to Tommy.

The Customized Mower and Equipment

Tommy is getting big, and he’ll quickly be too big to ride on the lap of the person operating the riding lawn mower. A good friend of the family is going to customize a bench seat for the mower so Tommy and his dad, and maybe one of Tommy’s brothers, can ride together comfortably on the mower. To accommodate a customized bench seat, and potentially three people, we’re planning on buying Tommy mower with a heavier frame and more horsepower.

To keep the mower protected from the elements we’re going to buy an enclosed cargo trailer to store and transport it. Tommy’s house has a one stall garage, and while Tommy’s mom is super excited about the mower, we don’t want to kick her out of her parking spot. So the cargo trailer will be both the transport, but also safe storage throughout the year.

The Business

Tommy’s dad, Andrew, will keep everything organized and do most of the mowing with Tommy as things get started. The bench seat will allow Tommy’s brothers to ride along so they get used to mowing with Tommy. Over time, the hope is that they can help mow with Tommy as well.

The goal of the business is to bring joy to Tommy. Any profits will feed back into their family budget and help to offset some of the ongoing costs associated with Tommy’s special needs.

The Mowing Story

We’re calling the business The Mowing Story. Tommy loves to mow, and when he’s not mowing he wants people to tell him the story of when he gets to mow. It’s “The Mowing Story.” And everyone who takes care of Tommy knows The Mowing Story.

The story starts like this: When the grass gets long, we’ll get out the mower. First, we’ll have to put gas in it. Then we’ll have to start it. How do we start it, Tommy?

This is where Tommy wants to see you pretend to pull the cord on the push mower. After you do it, he’ll do it. Then he’ll clap and probably jump with excitement. And after you pretend to pull the cord, you’ll make your best lawn mower noise.

The story goes on: Then you’ll get up on dad’s shoulders and mow the lawn. You’ll mow up and down until it’s all done.

Calling the business “The Mowing Story” is fitting because we tell this story dozens of times every day. It’s also significant because the business will also be a new story in Tommy’s life. The hope is to mow lawns for people who want to know and bless Tommy. We want Tommy to have something that’s his and something that helps to connect him with other people. So, The Mowing Story is not just the story of mowing the grass, it will be the ongoing story of Tommy meeting new people while enjoying something he loves.

Will you be part of Chapter One The Mowing Story? In this chapter, we find the funding to begin telling the rest of the story. We hope you’ll be willing to join us by chipping in what you can, and sharing the story so that other people can be a part of it, too.