ALUMNI
THE HANDS AND FEET OF THE LORD COMMITMENT AND FRIENDSHIP RESULT IN A BIBLE DEGREE FOR ONE STUDENT AND AN HONORARY DEGREE FOR ANOTHER
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lipscomb now
ood friends Seth Walker and Ken Brassell went across the Allen Arena stage at Lipscomb’s spring commencement ceremony not individually, but the same way they had walked around campus, to classes and labs and visiting in the student center for the past two and a half years: together. The May ceremony was the completion of a journey begun in 2014 when Brassell volunteered to become the hands and feet of Walker, who was born with cerebral palsy. Walker cannot walk or do any daily tasks of living independently. Even so, Walker wanted to obtain his college degree. When he was born, Walker wasn’t breathing and didn’t have a heartbeat. Physicians brought him back to life 30 minutes later but as a result of the lack of oxygen to his brain for that time, Walker has cerebral palsy. “Cerebral palsy affects brain function and is a lifelong condition with no cure,” said Walker, with the assistance of a device strapped onto his forehead and with the help of Brassell. “It can be severe or mild and can affect any area of the brain, from muscle control to speech to cognitive skills. My cerebral palsy is in the
middle. It affects my muscles, not allowing them to work correctly, but God has blessed me with a sharp, bright mind.” His parents knew that he would need help to fulfill his dream. They looked to their church for the perfect person to journey from class to class with Walker, assisting him in everyday and college tasks. During the family’s search, Brassell was simultaneously praying and asking God to show him what he could do to help others. “As I was praying, my computer dinged showing I had a notification from my church’s Facebook page,” said Brassell. “The new post was about a family at church looking for someone to accompany their son to college. God spoke to me and told me I would be the one to help him.” Brassell admits he was hesitant and a bit anxious about agreeing to accompany Walker to his college classes, because he didn’t have any experience caring for someone with this type of physical challenge. Although he was hesitant, Brassell said God was persistent in showing him this is what he needed to do, and when he met Walker
