Blonde և curly hair, man, wearing a white shirt Arthur Boucheron is not afraid of anything. Sitting well in his wheelchair, he proudly presents his book Wheels on Earth, published in June 2022 by First Editions. On the cover we see the same 19-year-old young man, accompanied by his two best friends Flora և Nikola, with a pencil drawn.
Barely placed somewhere, he takes out his cell phone and starts shooting. For more than two years, the electronic tool has become its third arm. For his 800,000 fans, he directs himself, takes photos, writes and posts on social networks. The canvas has become for him a huge space of freedom of speech, where he can depict his daily life. With its colors and shades.
Live normally
Arthur never walked. When he was barely 18 months old, doctors diagnosed him with a rare genetic condition called spinal muscular atrophy. There is a genetic abnormality behind this barbaric name that affects about a hundred babies each year with more or less serious eggs. Half of them, like Arthur, can sit և use their hands, but often can not walk.
«That is lifeReplied Bordlene, lightly. he does not have “has never had difficulty accepting the disease“Because he exists”born with:he assures Figaro. For his parents, the news was first perceived as the cold ax of this dream life, happy and without traps. «We can not imagine the pain we experienced, trusts Valerie, his mother. You are told that your child has a rare disease that he or she will have for the rest of his or her life.“Finally, then”four five horrible months“The couple decides to offer life.”as normal as possibleto her child.
So Arthur gets an educationclassicHe entered elementary school, college, then general high school. “Teachers, lecturers, school life assistants, principals and friends all find solutions to help the young boy live.”the same life as the others«. Her parents are also struggling to keep up with her daily routine, and her mother even prefers to work at school to take her son to the bathroom during each break. Even today he wakes up three times a night to walk around to avoid ulcers. Her father dresses her, takes a shower, and prepares her for various activities. «When we’re inside, we’re not thinking, adds Valerie. We do everything to be by the side of our children.»
Three years later, Tom completes the family. With a very different character, he very quickly took the place of the defender brother, especially on the playground. Today, the teenager accompanies his adult on all his travels to advertise his book. Bag handler, watchman, taxi manager … Tom is a real Swiss Army knife for Arthur, և Arthur returns it.
Arrest on social networks
Life as Arthur knows it today began two years ago after many arrests. In March 2020, Arthur was exiled with his grandparents to the village due to uncertainty over the risks of his fragility և Covid-19. «They made pasta for me, I liked ithe trusts with a smile. For two months, a high school student was exposed to a call from the TikTok social network, which had exploded during a health crisis, from tired movies and TV series. «I just wanted to be like my friends“Arthur adds, who at the moment has no idea how big the phenomenon will reach.
There was not even a word about the young man’s illness at that timeTick-Toker:“discuss”everything և nothing“, Is addressed to the relatives without looking too much. Almost in spite of himself, his account becomes a place of awareness on topics related to disability. «I started getting a lot of questions, and it worked out right away. One week later I had 150,000 subscribers«. The dazzling success of a social networking algorithm reveals a general lack of knowledge on the subject.
«At first it scared me“, – confesses the young man, who was recognized from his first public appearance in the supermarket. “His mother, a little worried about her child’s famous infamy, carefully studied each commentary, knowing full well.”the good and the bad of social networks«. The relatives are very present both in the networks and in his real life. Privilege that Arthur found out about while communicating with his subscribers. «I get testimonials from young people whose parents prefer to be sent to centers. With Tiktok, I realized that not everyone is fortunate enough to have parents like me who have the power to care for them day and night.»
hymn to life
By spreading his book on social media, Arthur wants to make his career the anthem of his life. Barely in adulthood he is full of projects. “She wants to travel, have fun, spend time with friends, explore work, study art, live in Miami. Why not?”starred in a Netflix movie«. «I have this disease for life, I will not start running tomorrow, he assures while having fun. Can he live life to the fullest and laugh at it?Young Bordle realizes that he does not have a life like the others.
«We decided to live normally, we never put any obstacles for Arthur– continues Valerie, the mother of the family. Travel, attention, dreams … From a young age, Arthur was deprived of nothing. «He is a child who has always loved news, life and the world. He has dreams և desires.When faced with adversity, Arthur became accustomed to not asking too many questions and moving on, trying to convey a new taste at every good moment. «When we suffer, we know how to enjoy life better.»
At the age of 14, Arthur underwent a very serious operation on his spine, which was necessary for his survival. Ten hours, during which his parents and grandparents were suspended from the doctors’ verdict. If the operation went well, the young boy’s medical complications do not stop, հետո after a few weeks of recovery he has to have another operation urgently. New days are coming, hospitalized, immobile, forced to take care of doctors and nurses. «This year I was really “distracted” about it, but I knew I was in danger of dying without this surgery.»
Even today, if they are less restrictive than when he was a teenager, medical-paramedical appointments make his daily routine. Arthur goes to a physiotherapist twice a week. «I sometimes jump to get there“, He admits having fun. Because he livessometimes he even forgets that he is disabled«.
Source: Le Figaro
