When Garreth Bell was asked in a fourth-grade school assignment who his hero was, he didn’t hesitate to say: his dad, Stephen.

Garreth had a question for his dad: Why are you in a wheelchair? The answer dates back long before Garreth was born.

In 1992, Stephen was just 22 years old when he woke up with extreme back pain between his shoulder blades. It turned out that a blood vessel had burst in his spine, leaving him paralyzed from the chest down.

“I was in rehab for about two months, learning how to just live again. I gained a whole new perspective on the world,” Stephen recalled.

In his school assignment, Garreth wrote, “It’s like he’s still walking because he takes care of himself and the family.” Those words profoundly changed how Stephen felt about himself.

In an email to CBS News contributor David Begnaud, Stephen explained how much Garreth’s words meant to him.

**Son gives dad a special memory**

“When I read it, I felt seen for the first time in a long time. It was as if he understood what I had gone through and how I battled daily to continue to provide for our family regardless of the circumstances,” Stephen wrote.

The assignment also shaped Garreth’s future. He wrote, “Poppa, I’ve been watching you suffer my whole life. I should become someone who can do something about it so that others don’t have to go through what you went through.”

True to his word, Garreth went on to pursue a path to help others. He attended the University of Miami and became a physical therapist. Today, he helps run adaptive beach days—events that assist people with disabilities in getting into the water.

Recently, Garreth helped his dad experience the ocean firsthand for the first time in more than 25 years.

“They had to keep me from jumping out of the chair and swimming,” Stephen said. “It was just like heaven for me.”

“It was the biggest smile I’ve ever seen,” Garreth added, grateful for the special moment.

Since that first swim, Stephen has returned to the beach several times. He considers his son’s compassion and empathy his greatest qualities.

“I was surprised that he said I’m his hero because looking back, if I had to say it again, I’d say I want to be like him when I grow up,” Stephen said. “I strive to be the person that he actually sees.”

For Garreth, the answer to who his hero is remains the same today.

“He taught me how to be a man. He was my role model growing up, and he still is,” Garreth said.

—

David Begnaud loves uncovering the heart of every story and continues to highlight everyday heroes in his exclusive CBS Mornings series, *Beg-Knows America*. Every Monday, get ready for moments that will make you smile or even shed a tear.

Do you have a story about an ordinary person doing something extraordinary for someone else? Email David and his team at DearDavid@cbsnews.com.
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/dad-inspires-son-career-injury/