When Luiz Holloway grows up he wants to be a police officer. He loves everything about “the boys in blue”, is always talking about them and even has his own uniform.
However, being wheelchair-bound would discourage most from chasing their dreams. But for Luiz, having the opportunity to meet a “real” police officer was just the motivation he needed.
“Luiz and I have been working together for a little over a year and lately we’ve been working on him walking with a walker,” said Steps2Strides PTA Jessica Miller.
Suffering a brain injury when he was a child, Luiz, now 10-years old, attends physical, speech and occupational therapy twice a week at Steps2Strides and has been in a wheelchair since he was two years old.
“He has come a long way and I am super proud of him,” said Miller. “He has overcome many obstacles and been able to achieve many things his family was told he’d never be able to do.”
One of those obstacles included walking on his own with a walker and Miller knew exactly the reward for reaching that goal.
“One of my best friends is dating a Paris Police Officer and knowing how much Luiz loves police, we set a goal that if he could walk around our entire facility I’d have Officer Hunter Armstrong come and visit.”
With the opportunity to meet an Officer, Luiz not only achieved that goal but “smashed” it walking around the entire facility with his walker on Nov. 18.
“We had it all set up and when Luiz was halfway through walking around the office, Officer Armstrong walked in and finished walking the rest with him,” said Miller.
“It was very inspirational to see Luiz walk and he almost did it with ease,” said Officer Armstrong. “It was amazing to see his drive and determination.”
Armstrong not only walked side-by-side with Luiz but spent time with not only him but the other kids as well.
“He told me he will be running in no time so he could be a police officer,” added Armstrong. “I’m glad I got to meet him.”
Miller said the special visit is one Luiz will remember forever and has inspired him even more.
“After Hunter left Luiz kept telling everyone he couldn’t believe he walked the lap on his own and that he was now training to become a police officer.”
