Adapts golf cart, high chairs and beds to make life easier for his kids
Ron and Anne Schexnaydre are accustomed to bringing the world to their twin sons, Joshua and Jacob, but their latest feat changes that direction a little – at least in St. Charles Parish.
On the 16-year-olds’ birthday, Sept. 21, they will officially get their own “pedicab” and it’s special because it was made by their father.
“There are so many things they can’t do, but love to be outside,” the Norco mother said of her sons. “Every child deserves to have the wind blow through their hair.”
This is no small thing to her sons, who are both autistic with low cognitive abilities, Anne said. They are students of Destrehan High School, but they do not speak.
Even so, that hasn’t stopped their parents from finding ways to reach them.
When Anne decided she wanted a way to share her exercise time with her sons, the answer came when she saw the photograph of a pedicab. She put Ron to work doing what he does best – making things. The idea seemed easy to him as an electrical instrumentation technician for Monsanto, although he would discover that making a bicycle for three would be challenging.
“I’m a builder,” Ron said. “I love to build. It’s part of my God-given talent.”
Anne added, “All of his friends know that he builds everything.”
Early on, Ron started using his talents to make the kind of adjustments that benefited his sons, including adding a seat to a golf cart for them, adapting high chairs to hold them up when they couldn’t sit up on their own and special beds for them.
These many challenges have helped him discover there are so many more layers to a person than is known.
Anne agreed that her husband’s skill is a gift from God.“Oh, my gosh, what hasn’t he built?!” she said. “He’s very humble and doesn’t like credit for this. This is a gift that God gave him … building things for the children.”
So Ron set out on this new project about nine months ago to construct the pedicab, a vehicle equivalent to a rickshaw that Anne could pedal with a rear seat large enough for both her sons.
If it worked, it would be a perfect fit for her love of bicycling on the levee and her son’s love of the outdoors. It’s not uncommon for Anne to bike 20 miles on the levee and this option would let her ride while providing a way for her children to ride along with her.
Anne announced she’s already lined up their first pedicab ride with her sons called “Bike the Big Easy” on Oct. 15. The 20-mile ride drew more than 2,000 people last year.Ron found the project was a little more involved than he anticipated, but Anne wasn’t concerned because her husband is 100 percent committed to his projects and he devoted every free moment possible to meet the goal of having the bicycle done by his sons’ birthday.
He didn’t have plans so he drew them himself, built the pedicab from scratch and then modified it as needed.“I do better just building,” Ron said. “I viewed pedicab online samples and ordered the parts.”
Ron was a machinist before he went to work for Monsanto. Ironically, he found sewing the seats more challenging than building the tricycle because he wasn’t familiar with upholstery.
This tricycle isn’t only a handy set of wheels, but has been tailored for the twins.
“Our boys are not very coordinated,” Anne said. But when the couple observed the two were having difficulty pivoting or swiveling to get onto the pedicab, Ron extended its length and added a step.
More adjustments are likely as he observes their use of it – and he’s watching. Ron has already pointed out his planned modifications for a smoother pedicab ride.
“We’re really excited about it because just in our neighborhood alone I know eight families personally with children with disabilities,” she said. “This is not something that will just we will get a benefit from … we want our friends to come by and borrow it so their kids can use it.”
The pedicab isn’t the only one of Ron’s gifts that they share with others who need help.
Anne also praised Ron’s construction of their combination hot tub and swimming pool, which they allow other special needs children to use for aquatic therapy, and friends to use for physical therapy.
“We really try to give back … not just use for us,” she said.
Ron recounted building a small jeep for the special needs class at Harry Hurst Middle School and still revels over how people made the donations that made it possible.
“It made me see the compassion people have,” he said.In return, Ron and Anne have dedicated their efforts to helping others.
“My boys are the way they are and I love them,” he said. “There are things I can fix for them and try to make their lives better. And we try to share things with other people as much as possible.”
The couple is also clearly dedicated to bringing joy to their sons.
“When they feel the wind on their face through their hair, their face just lights up,” Anne said. “Imagine loving that feeling and not being able to do it yourself. This lets us give them a little bit of excitement and happiness.”
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