Some people take decades to find out what they want to do for a living, but Malachi Stohr of Washington has already found his passion in waste management!
The 2-year-old was born prematurely with spina bifida and required immediate surgery to close the opening at the end of his spine. Since then, he’s undergone countless tests and operations.
“Our first year was really rough, scary, very dramatic,”his mom, Whitney Stohr, told Today. “He just didn’t have any experiences other than experiencing the medical world.â€
Malachi is almost 3 now and recently got his first wheelchair. Being mobile has opened up a whole new world for the little guy, so he started taking walks around the neighborhood with his mother.
That’s how he first discovered the sanitation workers who come in their big, green garbage trucks every Tuesday!
“He would just be fascinated by these trucks, and he would just stare at and point to them, and we would follow them around the neighborhood,”Whitney said. “Every time they would stop to pick up a bin, we would stop and we’d watch them. And he was just transfixed through the whole process.â€
When his caregivers at Seattle Children’s Hospital heard about Malachi’s love of garbage trucks, they contacted Waste Management to plan a surprise for him.
One Tuesday morning, workers jumped out of their trucks and held up a sign that said, “Hi Malachi! Tuesdays are our favorite day because of you!”
They also brought a package full of goodies for him, including a toy trash can that he’s “obsessed” with.
“He finds it in his toy box and he’ll sit there and just open it and put things in it,” Whitney explained. “It’s just his favorite thing, his little trash can.”
Beyond the wonder his family felt when he got his presents and was dubbed a “Junior Garbage Man,” the real joy came from having the support of their community. Being a parent of a child with special needs can be isolating, so feeling seen made a huge difference for Whitney.
“For us, community is just so important, and being able to participate and engage in community,” she said. “For families like ours, that can be really challenging at times. Accessibility is hard in a lot of ways.â€
Just look at that smile! What a fantastic way for Waste Management to recognize one of their biggest fans. Enjoy your new toy, Malachi!
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