The Wheelchair Roundtable -Crushing Stigmas One Episode At A Time

In this episode, we sit down with Frances “Fran” Esteves, an Occupational Therapist with nearly 19 years of experience serving students across the Rio Grande Valley. Fran shares how her lifelong connection to movement — from dancing with a semi-professional ballet company to teaching classical ballet in North Dakota and coaching rhythmic gymnastics in McAllen — shaped her passion for working with children of all abilities.

She reflects on her years teaching general and adaptive PE for Edinburg CISD, the moment she discovered occupational therapy, and how school-based practice became her calling. Fran talks about the realities of working across public, charter, and private schools, as well as in pediatric clinics in both Hidalgo and Cameron counties.

Throughout the conversation, Fran offers insight into what students truly need, the challenges therapists face in schools, and why supporting kids’ functional skills is her life’s mission. Today, she continues that mission full-time with a local district — and she brings all that experience to this powerful, inspiring episode.

Episode Description — Season 1 Finale: “The First 15”

In this special season finale, we hit pause and look back at the journey that brought us here. From powerful comeback stories to raw, unfiltered conversations about resilience, purpose, and real-life struggles, we revisit the first 15 episodes that shaped Season 1.

Join us as we reflect on the lessons learned, the guests who left a mark, the moments that surprised us, and the stories that pushed us to grow. We share behind-the-scenes insights, our honest thoughts, and what this season has meant to us both personally and as creators.

As we close out Season 1, we celebrate how far we’ve come — and get ready for what’s next. Whether you’ve been here since episode one or just discovered the show, this finale is the perfect way to wrap up the journey so far.

At just 17 years old, Charlie Merritt made a promise — to serve, to lead, and to never back down. Following in his father’s footsteps, he earned the title of United States Marine at Parris Island, beginning a journey defined by grit, discipline, and heart. After eight years on active duty and four in the reserves, Charlie carried that same intensity into life beyond the Corps — playing semi-pro football, competing in strongman events, and running his own company.

But one dive — on what seemed like a perfect day — changed everything. A routine jump into the water ended in a catastrophic neck injury, leaving Charlie paralyzed from the shoulders down. He coded twelve times. Doctors didn’t expect him to make it. But Marines don’t quit.

What followed was a comeback story unlike any other — a story of faith, family, and the power of purpose. Charlie turned pain into purpose, founding Stand Up For Me, a nonprofit that provides adaptive equipment for people with disabilities. He also found healing through music, writing 15 original songs — including “Me Without You,” a tribute to caregivers performed by Jelly Roll.

Today, Charlie continues to lead by example — advocating for veterans, studying to become an ATP, and reminding the world that standing tall has nothing to do with walking.

For as long as he can remember, Mario Bonfante has lived for speed — from BMX tracks and motocross jumps to the smooth pavement of road racing. By the time he was sixteen, he had earned his pro card, chasing the dream of becoming one of the best. But in September of 2006, a BMX crash changed everything.

The accident left him paralyzed — but not powerless.

After months in the hospital and years of intense physical therapy in San Diego, Mario refused to let his injury define his limits. He wasn’t just rebuilding his body; he was rebuilding his future.

When racing seemed out of reach, he decided to engineer his way back. With the same creativity and relentless drive that fueled his racing career, Mario taught himself how to design and build his own adaptive hand controls — custom setups that would let him get back behind the wheel. What started in his garage turned into a symbol of what’s possible when passion meets innovation.

Now back in the Bay Area, Mario continues to push boundaries — whether it’s refining his designs, chasing new projects, or inspiring others to redefine what’s possible. For him, life is 5% physical and 95% mental. Tell him he can’t, and he’ll not only prove you wrong — he’ll figure out how to do it better.

This is the story of Mario Bonfante — racer, engineer, and proof that no crash can stop someone who’s built to keep moving forward.

At just 18 years old, Armando Ramirez’s life changed in an instant. What began as an ordinary night ended in tragedy when a drive-by shooting left him fighting for his life. His heart stopped for 12 minutes. Doctors said the odds were slim — but Armando had other plans.

Now living with a T9–T10 spinal cord injury, Armando has defied every expectation. From countless surgeries and rehab at Craig Hospital to rediscovering his love for painting cars and earning his real estate license, he’s proven that resilience runs deeper than muscle.

In this powerful episode, Armando opens up about survival, faith, heartbreak, and the journey of finding purpose after trauma. His story is a reminder that even when life stops your heart, purpose can start it beating again.

In this episode, we sit down with Corey Lee — better known as Pheez. At just 18 years old, Corey joined the Navy on September 6, 2001, only five days before 9/11 changed the world. What he thought would be a four-year enlistment turned into deployments, life-altering experiences, and a path he never expected.

Corey opens up about his time serving and the diving accident that left him paralyzed from the neck down. From that life-changing moment, he embarked on a journey of survival, resilience, and rediscovering purpose. Despite the challenges, he found love after his injury, bought an ADA-accessible home at the age of 24, and is now a proud father of two. Corey is also active in nonprofit organizations advocating for people with disabilities and has built an established music career, with several albums streaming on all platforms.

His story is raw, unfiltered, and full of powerful lessons about facing tragedy head-on, thriving beyond it, and redefining what it means to live a meaningful life.

Note for listeners: There are a few parts of the conversation with poor audio quality that couldn’t be fully fixed in post-production. We decided to keep them in because Corey’s story is too important not to share. Thank you for your understanding as you listen to this moving and impactful episode.

• Listener discretion is advised. Eric’s story is raw, real, and unforgettable. After surviving two major crashes that left him with spinal cord injuries, he takes us inside the highs and lows of rehab—sharing how medication-induced hallucinations tested his mind, and how humor became his tool to calm others and himself. He recalls the unlikely moment that changed everything: eating a hamburger that reignited his drive to push through therapy and fight for independence.
• Eric also gets brutally honest about the personal challenges—missing his divorce court date while hospitalized, living in a nursing home for six months, and finding friendship in a resident named Maria. To close the episode, Eric and Danny break stigma wide open with a no-holds-barred discussion about sexuality after spinal cord injury—covering intimacy, fertility, precautions, and possibilities. Unfiltered and unapologetic, Eric proves that life after injury is still full of fight, love, laughter, and real talk.

Jody’s story is one of resilience, faith, and fighting spirit. He shares how a life-changing accident deepened his spiritual connection and set him on a journey of recovery at Craig Hospital. Through the ups and downs, he battled depression and discovered purpose and joy in adaptive sports. Today, Jody is not only the reigning Wheelchair Boxing Heavyweight Champion but also a loving father, a devoted fiancé—recently proposing in London—and a man who leads with humor and heart. His journey reminds us that true strength is found in perseverance, passion, and love.

Episode Description (Dr. Julia Bramwell) In this powerful episode, we sit down with Dr. Julia Bramwell, a board-certified pediatrician who has dedicated over two decades to medicine before making a bold shift to launch Invest in My Health Corp. Julia opens up about her personal journey, the challenges she faced, and the pivotal experiences that reshaped her path.

We talk about her “rage against the machine” — her fearless investigative work uncovering the misuse of funds within the healthcare system, and how that fight has fueled her mission to create more transparency and accountability. Julia also shares her insights into the benefits of ketamine therapy, its potential to heal, and why she believes it is an important tool in the landscape of modern medicine.

But Julia doesn’t just tell her story — she challenges us. In one of the most memorable moments of the conversation, she turns the tables and asks us why we are passionate about the work we do.

This episode is both eye-opening and deeply personal, offering a look at medicine, advocacy, and healing through the lens of someone who has lived it, fought for it, and continues to innovate for the future.

In this episode, Dr. Julia Bramwell opens up about her remarkable journey from a long career in medicine to becoming a fierce advocate for change. She shares how her own personal story fueled her determination to challenge the system, exposing misuse of funds and raising her voice against practices that don’t serve patients. Julia also dives into the healing potential of ketamine, breaking down its benefits with honesty and clarity. But she doesn’t just tell her story—she asks us questions too, challenging us to reflect on our own passions, values, and reasons for doing the work we do. Julia’s mix of resilience, curiosity, and courage offers a fresh perspective on medicine, healing, and purpose.