Nail salon refuses a woman with cerebral palsy, so Walmart employees pamper her

Angela Peters of Burton, Michigan is an artist and poet. She also has cerebral palsy. A familiar face at the Burton Walmart, Peters drove her power wheelchair into the nail salon within the store last week. The salon refused to do her nails because she "moved too much," their description of her movement disorder.

The scene was witnessed by horrified Walmart cashier Tasia Smith. She spread the word among other Walmart employees, including Ebony Harris who works at the Subway within Walmart. Harris offered to do the woman's nails herself. Other employees helped out by buying the nail polish and other supplies. Peters chose her colors, and Harris got to work. 

Tasia Smith captured the scene and shared it on Facebook. Harris later said, “She moved her hands a little bit and she kept saying she was sorry. And, I told her don’t say that. I said you’re fine.” Harris doesn't want bad publicity for the nail salon, but agreed to share her kindness because she wants others to do the same. "She wants to look pretty," she said of Peters, "so why can't she?"

As for Peters, she is delighted with her manicure. Smith, Peters, and Harris have already lined up a dinner together to cement their newfound friendship. 

Chinese woman wouldn't give up on her son

Back in 1988, Zuo Hongyan gave birth to a son in her home province of Hubei, China. Birth complications led to the baby being diagnosed with cerebral palsy in infancy. Local doctors advised she give up the baby, as he would probably be disabled and/or have low intelligence. Her husband agreed, saying that the boy would be a burden on the family his entire life.

Zou vowed to keep the baby. The couple divorced.

In order to support them both, Zou took a full-time job and several part time jobs too. In between, she took him to therapy and learned how to carry over some of the activities at home. She bought puzzles and brain teasers, massaged and stretched him, and insisted he learn to eat with chopsticks as was their custom. Her goal was to push her son as far as he could be pushed given his disability.

Zou's son Ding Zheng has done well indeed. He obtained a bachelor's degree from Peking University’s Environmental Science and Engineering School, and then enrolled in that university's International Law School. Last year, he began studies at Harvard University. 

That's right. The Chinese baby who was to be 'given up' as a 'burden' now attends an Ivy League school in the US. All because someone believed he shouldn't be defined by his disability.

The true measure of character

Columnist Ann Landers, novelist Paul Eldridge, entrepreneur Malcolm Forbes and several others are credited with versions of this quote:

"You can easily judge the character of others by how they treat those who can do nothing for them or to them."

 If that's true, then Paul and Shaeleane are both people of high character. In the course of performing their job, they each found a way to show empathy and kindness for someone who can give them nothing in return.

Paul Edden is a Lance Corporal of the Coldstream Guard outside Windsor Castle. During the routine guard change, he noticed something. A small boy in full Coldstream uniform stood near the guardroom, saluting the guardsmen as they marched by. After leading his men past the boy and into the guardroom, Edden stepped back out and posed for pictures with 4-year-old Marshall Scott. He later invited Marshall and his family on a tour of Windsor Castle. A dream come true for Marshall on his birthday.

Shaeleane, no last name found, is a cashier at WinCo in Temecula, California. She must have noticed the contagious smile of 14-year-old Andy who was shopping with his mom, Jeannie Robinson. Andy has cerebral palsy, and loves to push the cart and help at the checkout. Shaeleane let Andy step behind the counter and helped him scan some items while his mom videoed the experience. Andy was thrilled, and Jeannie later reported that he didn't stop smiling all day.