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PROVO — Overcoming limitations and breaking down boundaries is what Jessica Frischknecht’s life has been all about.
Despite being confined to a wheelchair, having no use of her legs, and limited use of her arms, she’s a sophomore at BYU studying graphic design and print journalism and is writing a book.
She moves around in her wheelchair as graceful as a swan, goes to parties, and is affectionately known as “chick on wheels!”.
Anyone can change a child's diaper, but I think being a mother is more of being emotionally and mentally capable of providing consistent support, love and attention.
–Jessica Frischknecht
Frishknecht is even getting married soon. When that happens, she will become an instant mom to two little girls.
All her life, she's dealt with the reality that she simply cannot do what others can — run, jump, swim, play sports, drive a car, or put on her own makeup. She's also had to deal with the very obvious stares from others and their judgmental comments. But she has her own unique way of dealing with it.
“By laughing," Frishknecht explains, "because they obviously don't know me if they are judging me by uneducated assumptions.
"People like to stare at me, too," she says. "I tell myself they must think I'm cute. Once at a park a little boy was running past me, looking back as he ran so that he could keep staring at me, and then bam! He ran into a pole on the playground. I could write a whole book on those kinds of experiences.”
Frishknecht met her fiancé, Jason, through LDSPlanet.com and their first official date was on a snowy night at the mall in December 2010.
Hopefully they wouldn't just think I'm inspiring because I'm sitting down and they aren't.
–Jessica Frischknecht
Some people might wonder why Jason would marry someone in a wheelchair. “He said because I show him what real love is and show him that I care, and it doesn't matter if I'm in a wheelchair or not," Frishknecht says. "I would say because he got to know who I really am, and I am not my wheelchair.”
In addition to her upcoming marriage, she'll also excited to become an instant mom. “
"People probably think I can't be a mother because I can't change diapers or something," she said. "But when you think about it, anyone can change a child's diaper, but I think being a mother is more of being emotionally and mentally capable of providing consistent support, love and attention.”
When she was in the Miss Wheelchair Utah Pageant, Frishknecht created a video called "Shattering Boundaries" to show what people with disabilities are capable of accomplishing.
She is even writing a book about her life and overcoming limitations. She hopes it will inspire others "to do something they never thought they could do, or inspire them to think outside of the box, or inspire them to wear something funky."
"Hopefully they wouldn't just think I'm inspiring because I'm sitting down and they aren't," Frishknecht says.
To learn more about Jessica Frischknecht, follow her blog at www.chickonwheels.blogspot.com
Aaren Humpherys graduated from Brigham Young University in 2001, is a CPA, emergency preparedness expert and father of three. Contact him at alhumpherys@gmail.com.
