Photo By Sgt. Jasmine Higgins | Ezekiel “Zeke” McCarley, right, 10-year-old Special Olympics aquatic competitor,...... read more read more
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JOINT BASE LEWIS-MCCHORD, Wash. - “Lets go Zeke!!!”
“C’mon you can do it Zeke”
“GO! GO! GO! GO!”
“Keep your head up… Now swim! Swim! Swim!”
Fast-forward to three medals later; two silver, one bronze, and Ezekiel McCarley, a Special Olympics Washington aquatics competitor, has set the example for many of the kids and adults like him – those with intellectual disabilities competing in the 2015 Special Olympics Washington, held on Joint Base Lewis-McChord, May 28-31.
Ezekiel, aka Zeakers, aka Zeakster, aka Zeak-a-roni, aka Captain Zeke, but most commonly aka Zeke McCarley was welcomed into the world May 15, 2005, to parents Chris and Kaci McCarley, and it was shortly after that when they realized that Zeke was going to have to conquer obstacles for the rest of his life.
“Within about five hours after he was born we were told he had Down Syndrome,” said Kaci, Zekes mother.
Many children form bonds and look up to the people closest to them and Zeke would do just that, with no one other than his older brother Cooper McCarley.
“Zeke and Cooper have always had a very close bond,” said Kaci. “Cooper helps Zeke, and believe it or not, Zeke helps Cooper”
To this day that bond continues to grow and prosper by way of the 2015 Special Olympics Washington.
“I have been swimming with Zeke for about three and a half years,” said Cooper McCarley, Zeke’s 11-year-old big brother. “I have also done two competitions with him.”
At 10–years-old, making him one of the youngest competitors, Zeke recently qualified and placed in three different aquatic events at the state level in the 2015 Special Olympics Washington to include; the 10m Assisted Swim, the 15m Aquatic Walk, and the 15m Unassisted Swim.
“That’s one of my favorite things, seeing Zeke swim independently like he was supposed too,” said Cooper while embracing his younger brother, Zeke, in his arms. “It makes me feel good that he can accomplish things without any help.”
Throughout most of the competition, the brotherly bond was strong and unbroken – whether it was Zeke running to hug Cooper after an event, or Cooper rushing to be one of the first to congratulate Zeke, many would bear witness to the significant impact that the relationship carries to each of the boys.
“There is no greater joy that I could have then to see them caring for one another, because really it’s not only Cooper helping Zeke, but Zeke who helps Cooper,” said Kaci. “Because Cooper is really unselfish, and I really believe if Cooper didn’t have Zeke he would be more focused on himself and the things that he wants to do -- Cooper is very giving and I know that because Zeke is in his house.”
| Date Taken: | 06.06.2015 |
| Date Posted: | 06.07.2015 01:34 |
| Story ID: | 165759 |
| Location: | JOINT BASE LEWIS-MCCHORD, WA, US |
| Web Views: | 80 |
| Downloads: | 3 |
This work, Unbreakable, special bond, by SGT Jasmine Higgins, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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