Why I Created World Beyond Barriers
It was 2018, the last time we took my daughter, Providence (“Provi”), on an airplane.
She had barely turned one, and up until that point, we had visited her great-aunts and great-great-grandmother, Providencia, in Puerto Rico; spent the summer camping outdoors; and traveled over 1,000 miles via Amtrak to visit Grandma and Grandpa.
The last flight with her was to Colorado, where her Titi Michella was about to have her third baby — her first girl. Her little girl, Roma, would turn out to be one year and seventeen days younger than Provi. Oh, how exciting!
During that trip, her Titi didn’t like seeing Provi’s eyes drift off while she was eating. As a teacher for those with disabilities, her Titi immediately caught that something was off.
After our stay, her dad and I, along with Provi, road-tripped from Colorado to Oregon. We spent the night at Little America, Wyoming, making memories that will last forever. My favorite is sitting in the backseat with her, singing songs, playing hand games, and seeing her bright eyes and big smile. Little did I know that trip would be one of the big last family trips we would take together for seven years.
When Everything Changed
In November 2018, Providence was diagnosed with epilepsy and had her first admission for uncontrollable seizures.
In December 2018, Providence was admitted multiple times for respiratory distress and was given an NG tube to eat, for several reasons.
In January 2019, we received the genetic testing back, diagnosing her with EIEE-37 — Early Infantile Epileptic Encephalopathy-37 — a genetic condition causing regression, low muscle tone, and non-stop seizures.
In this three-month time, her life completely changed, and so did ours.
In April 2019, Jason and I gave birth to a healthy, neurotypical baby boy, and that summer, we moved into a larger home to accommodate all the medical equipment and our new blessing in our life.
We planned to visit Great-Grandma Provi in April 2020, but had to cancel because of a scary thing happening around the world called COVID-19. That same month we were supposed to visit, Grandma Provi passed away.
From Adventurous to Cautious
I don’t tell you this story to gain sympathy. Honestly, telling this story is always difficult for me because I have to fight back the tears just to get through it.
But I tell this story because it’s essential to why I started World Beyond Barriers.
You see, our family went from adventurous to prudent. Where we once saw big trees and night skies, or flew through clouds in the heavens, we now saw medical equipment, doctors and nurses, and the risks of leaving the house.
Most of our family trips were planned locally and not without difficulty. Providence alone required two suitcases and three to five additional bags filled with medical equipment.
Furthermore, where could we go? Pulling a wheelchair on a beach isn’t easy. And if we thought about flying or taking Amtrak — how? What happens to her wheelchair? How do we change her diaper? What if we have a medical emergency? So many unknowns, and not much information out there on how to handle it.
Then something happened in 2024 that changed the trajectory.
We decided to raise money for a wheelchair-accessible van. A stranger called the “Cardboard Preacher” from Spokane saw this and helped us raise around $40,000 to buy a Ford Transit. Our small church group of around ten also donated a large amount, and my husband’s aunt did as well.
This allowed us to not only purchase a cargo van, but with a state grant and our own money, we were also able to outfit it with a wheelchair ramp, flooring, plug-ins for medical equipment, and other things like shelves for storage, insulation, chairs, a changing pad, and more.
What a miracle. What a game changer.
That’s when we decided, “We’re taking the kids to Disneyland!”
The Van That Changed Everything
We got the van in October 2025 and started planning — or rather, we thought about planning, because honestly, we knew nothing about Disneyland.
So I went on TikTok and found an independent travel agent who helped me plan our trip with ease. She found what we needed, guided me on what accessible services were available, and showed me how to access them.
The three-day experience was one of a lifetime.
Seeing Provi laugh with joy and watching my son get to see some of his favorite characters was incredible. We watched as the Fairy Godmother talked quietly to Provi and saw how our daughter’s eyes locked in with hers. It brought my husband and me to tears.
Everyone was so accommodating and kind. It was definitely an experience like none other.
When we got home, a lightbulb went off in me. I thought, “Wow, I should do this. I could do this. I can help families experience this too.”
And so here I am, ready to serve. Whether you are a group that needs special accommodations for a family member or friend, or someone who simply enjoys traveling around the world with no accommodations necessary, I am here to help.
My travel services are 100% free to you — no strings attached.
Because everyone deserves to experience the world.
“What the enemy meant for evil, God will use for good.” — Genesis 50:20