Our trip to Gatlinburg, Tennessee, was nothing short of amazing, but it took a lot of preparation! First, I'd like to give you a little background on our family. After years of Brittney and I trying to conceive with many failed attempts, we decided to pursue embryo adoption in Knoxville, Tennessee, in early 2023. During this time, a young woman from our hometown also approached us about adopting her child. Brittney had already started medication to prepare her body for the embryos we adopted, so after a long discussion, we decided to pursue both options.
We faced numerous scams during the adoption process and many failed IVF attempts, so we thought, "What is meant to be will be." Long story short, our beautiful daughter Charlie was born on July 27, 2023, and we were both in the room to witness her birth – Brittney even got to cut her cord. Did I mention that we were also 20 weeks pregnant at the time...with triplets? After our embryo transfer, we had an ultrasound in May 2023, just after meeting with Charlie's birth mother, and I'll never forget the look on the technician's face when she said, "Oh my gosh, there are three." I just about fell out of my wheelchair, and Brittney almost fell off the bed. The chances of this happening were less than 1%.
Our triplets – Knox, Navie, and Noa – were born on October 19, 2023. We are now blessed with four beautiful children, all born within 2.5 months of each other. Charlie turned one in July, and the triplets will turn one in October. Tennessee holds a special place in our hearts, and after the triplets were born, we decided to take a trip to Knoxville to visit the National Embryo Donation Center, where we adopted the embryos.
Now for the fun part: packing for a week-long vacation! With four babies around one year old, just imagine the amount of stuff we had to pack – and then double it! What do we pack for these trips? As a wheelchair user, I always go prepared. Here's a list of my "must-haves" for an extended trip:
- Commode chair: I use this as a shower chair as well. The folding commode chair I have fits nicely into our suitcase.
- Catheters: I determine how many I'll need and always bring an extra box, just in case.
- JanSport backpack: I carry my catheters in this on the back of my wheelchair. The JanSport Adaptive Collection Backpack is easy to get on and off, and the string loops on the zippers help with my limited hand function.
- Two extra tire tubes
- Tire spoons and valve core remover
- Small hand tire pump
- Extra set of wheels and tires: I bring these because our kids are crawling all over the floor, and I try to keep the Airbnb clean (yes, we cleaned the floor when we got to the cabin).
- A set of Allen wrenches
- Assorted wrenches
We loaded up our cargo carrier on the back of our SUV (with three-row seating) with all our necessities, but we made sure to keep my wheelchair inside the vehicle. In one car, we had Brittney, myself, my sister, Brittney's brother, Knox, Noa, Navie, and Charlie. Our two friends followed in their own vehicle. We left at 7 PM, hoping the kids would sleep through the 11-hour drive. I installed my portable hand controls in Brittney's car, and off we went! I drove the first eight hours but had to stop a few times to shift my weight. I frequently adjust the seat position to avoid skin breakdown. After eight hours, I had Brittany do a quick skin check – all was good!
Whenever we travel somewhere new, I always get nervous. Why?
- What if I can't fit in the bathroom?
- What if it's a struggle to get into the house?
- What if the bed's too high?
- What if I can't reach the toilet?
- What if I can't get around the house?
I know I'm not the only one with these "what-ifs." The Airbnb was labeled "handicap accessible," but we all know how that goes.
After 11.5 hours, we finally arrived at our cabin way up in the mountains. It looked beautiful and had a wheelchair ramp! We unloaded, and I eagerly approached the ramp to check out the cabin... only to find an 8-inch lip and broken cement. I managed to navigate it, but it wasn't easy. The first place I checked out was the bathroom. It was spacious and looked great until I noticed the "roll-in shower" had a 12-inch lip. I though, "How am I going to do this?" We set up my commode chair, and I made it work by transferring over the lip into the chair. Brittney was there to spot me, just in case. The only other issue was the lack of a detachable shower head, but we've dealt with this before. Brittney aimed the shower head at me, and we used a plastic cup to rinse off. Everything else in the cabin was perfect, and we adapted to the little hurdles as they came.
So, is Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge accessible? I'd say yes! We spent a day downtown on the Gatlinburg strip, and it was an absolute blast! We parked at the top of the incline, so the way back was uphill. As a C5-C6 quadriplegic, I was able to get everywhere independently, and that felt so rewarding. The sidewalks were smooth, and the crosswalks had smooth transitions onto the road. We visited nearly every attraction. If there were steps, a handicap entrance was always nearby.
We had a great lunch at Ole Red with all the kids. The host asked if upstairs seating was okay, and when I hesitated, they quickly pointed out the elevator. Accessibility is such an amazing feeling. After lunch, we headed to Ripley's Aquarium of the Smokies, which was also very accessible! I was even able to enter the play area with the kids. The accessible bridge leading into the play area was perfect. We toured the entire aquarium, and needless to say both the kids and adults loved it.
Afterward, we stopped at Ole Smoky Moonshine Distillery for tastings. I had never been to a distillery before and wasn't sure what accessibility barriers I'd encounter, but it was 100% accessible. I could reach any area I wanted, and the bar heights were perfect – I could actually see over the bar! On the way back to the car up the incline, my arms got tired after a long day without a power assist, but it was manageable. I even joked about hooking a rope to the kids' wagon and having Brittney pull me along!
We also took scenic rides around Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg, which offered breathtaking views. These little rides were a nice break in the day for the kids to rest up before their next adventure.
As a parent in a wheelchair far from home, I was nervous about packing everything and whether Tennessee would be accessible. I didn't want to rely on my wife or friends to help me get around all the time. As a C5-C6 quadriplegic with limited upper body strength, I can say that Gatlinburg was very accessible overall. I needed assistance in a few spots, like getting up small ramps, but my family and I were thrilled with the accessibility. If you're considering visiting Gatlinburg, I'd say go for it! It's a beautiful place with many activities to enjoy.
About the author
Zac Wolfe became a wheelchair user after a car accident in July 2011. He quickly learned that he had two choices: continue to live his life and explore this beautiful world or let this injury defeat him. Zac chose to live and explore. Zac is a huge outdoors enthusiast and loves off-roading in his Jeep. He made it his life goal to help others keep pushing forward and see that anything is possible with a positive attitude. It may not be easy, but it is worth it. Throughout his 12-year journey in a wheelchair, he has overcome unthinkable obstacles. Zac has a beautiful wife and has been blessed with four beautiful children: Charlie, Knox, Noa, and Navie.
Zac's ride is a Quickie Nitrum.
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