Better Together: A Memoir of Persistence, Inclusion, and a Family's Power to Overcome

When parents Nichole and Shaun Evans are informed that their one-year-old son, Shamus, has a diagnosis of cerebral palsy, the growing family refuses to let it limit them. They do whatever is necessary to help Shamus participate in everything he wants to try. One of those things is a passion for running. As soon as he is able to safely sit in a jogging stroller, Shamus rolls with dad as Shaun trains with Olympic dreams in his heart. A series of injuries and subsequent surgeries provide setbacks to Shaun's athletic career, but then Shamus presents the family with a goal that would inspire them all: a run across America! His dream is to roll from coast to coast in his running chair while promoting inclusion by donating such chairs to kids along the way. The Evans family then teams up with the not-for-profit organization Ainsley's Angels of America to make Shamus's BIG dream a reality. Better Together recounts the family's 3,205 mile journey across the continental United States, including moments of hardships, happiness, and surprises. Shaun finds both his motivation and his stride in knowing that stiff, sore, and cramped legs are a daily occurrence for his son. With Nichole and Simon's unwavering support as pit crew, the hospitality of Americans en route, and Shamus's optimism leading the way, the family demonstrates how anything is possible and accomplishments are so much better when they are achieved together!--Publisher's description.