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Baily Goes to College

Subhead
Luverne youth overcomes disability to take next steps toward college
Lead Summary
By
Mavis Fodness

Like most college freshmen Luverne’s Baily Vis is both nervous and optimistic about starting the next chapter in his life.
The prospect of meeting new people and adjusting to a new situation could make any 19-year-old nervous.
But Vis is optimistic he will make the adjustment just fine.
“I can handle it,” he said. “I know I can get over any hurdle that comes my way.”
For Baily the hurdles have been many.
At age 2, Vis was diagnosed with spinal muscular atrophy that has left him confined to a wheelchair. The hereditary disease progressively destroys voluntary muscle activity such as speaking, walking, breathing and swallowing.
The Rock County Star Herald published a story about the struggles a young Baily and his parents Shawn and Karmen Vis faced in an Aug. 19, 1999, article.
At that time Baily’s prognosis wasn't positive and his parents faced many decisions that would affect Baily’s quality of life.
“The doctors said I wouldn’t make it past age 5,” Baily said.
He credits the round-the-clock care, exceptional medical treatment and the loving support of family as reasons why he has lived 14 years longer than was projected.
Baily estimates he has had 10 to 12 surgeries, including a metal rod in his spine, a feeding tube and a tracheotomy that helps him breathe.
Since the age of 12, Baily has lived in a group home in Luverne for more reliable 24/7 health care and assistance with everyday tasks such as going to and from school.
“Graduating from high school was never really a prospect for me,” he said.
He received his diploma from Luverne High School this spring.
Baily was integrated into the classroom for the majority of his kindergarten through 12th-grade education. He was accompanied by a caretaker who assisted with his daytime medical needs and with taking notes, since Baily has limited hand movement. Occasionally during the cold and flu season he was homeschooled.
He credits local educators for pointing him toward his future career in print journalism.
Beginning in the sixth grade, teachers commented on how well he wrote and throughout middle/high school he received encouragement to continue to develop his writing skills.
“It wasn’t until I was 17 that I truly encompassed what people were telling me,” he said.
Starting this week Baily’s writing skills will receive more instruction as he begins classes at the University of Sioux Falls. He has selected three classes including an introduction to writing.
Technology has made Baily’s life easier including a built-in computer mouse in his wheelchair and a device that fits over his head so he can click through selected screens on his laptop.
However, technology allows Baily to do only so much by himself. A care worker types for him since the computer cannot understand his slurred speech.
Comic books have provided Baily with the inspiration to be a critic and he has written a blog on his opinion for several years.
“I read my first comic book when I was 9 years old,” he said. “Spiderman is really cool.”
Because Baily was never able to walk or had much use of his hands, he never developed an interest in sports, activities he said his 11-year-old brother Gabe is good at. Baily gravitated toward super heroes.
He said he identified with Spiderman because the character is an average person until he puts on the Spiderman suit.
“He’s a beacon of hope for the average person in every situation,” Baily said.
It’s an idea he has adopted, as doctors now predict his life expectancy to age 40.
“If someone tells you you’re only going to live to be a certain age, try to prove them wrong,” Baily said.

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