What Happened to You?: A Solo Wheelchair Travel Memoir

Sylvia Longmire

United States3 Books

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Biographies & Memoirs General Nonfiction

BIOGRAPHY
Sylvia Longmire is a service-disabled veteran, mother, author, consultant, entrepreneur, world traveler, and the former Ms. Wheelchair USA 2016. She traveled extensively from an early age and during her time as an Air Force officer and Special Agent. After she was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS) in 2005, her ability to walk started to deteriorate. Fortunately, the progression of her MS was slow enough that she could gradually adapt to new ways of living. Sylvia had to learn how to travel with a walker, and eventually with an electric scooter. Her work as a consultant has taken her all across the United States, and her addiction to leisure travel has taken her (and her scooter) as far as the deserts of Dubai and the glaciers of Alaska. She often travels alone, and is continually invigorated by the kindness and offers of help from strangers in every corner of this beautiful world.

However, Sylvia is battling the clock. MS is a progressive disease without a cure, and she doesn t know how much longer her body will allow her to travel. So as long as her wallet allows, Sylvia is knocking both domestic and international destinations off her bucket list as quickly as she can She chooses her destinations based on their levels of wheelchair accessibility, as well as whether she ll be able to travel there alone or need a companion. Her goals are twofold: to educate people at home and abroad about the needs and capabilities of disabled travelers, and to encourage people with disabilities to leave their fears behind and seek adventure. Through her photography from the vantage point of a seated position, Sylvia hopes to inspire other wheelies to create their own photo-worthy moments abroad.

When she s not traveling, Sylvia works as a consultant and subject matter expert on Mexico s drug war and border security issues. She has two books in print, Cartel and Border Insecurity, and she has appeared on most major national news and radio networks. She is also an accessible travel agent and owns/manages the Spin the Globe / Travel agency. Sylvia is a single mom to two amazing boys who inspired her to form The PreJax Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that provides college scholarships to students with MS or who have a parent with MS. All proceeds from the sale of The View from Down Here will be donated to the Foundation.