Published: October 10, 2008 11:54 am         

Local man's motto: 'Where there's a will, there's a way'

When most people think of Morehead Life Care Center they think of elderly residents. Kenny lives at Life Care but he is not elderly. He is 39 years old.

“I get down sometimes because I can’t get out and do things like other guys,” Kenny says.

William Kenneth Butler has been a resident of Life Care for five years.

“I’ll be here for the rest of my life unless they find a cure for Muscular Dystrophy.”

Kenny was diagnosed with Muscular Dystrophy when he was 14.

“I also had back surgery,” Kenny says. “I have steel rods in my back. I have a crooked spine. They said if I had waited one more month it would have killed me because it would have punctured my lungs. I was supposed to be in the hospital for six weeks but I was in there and out and back to school in less than two weeks.”

Kenny stays active and social. He plays bingo on Fridays and participates in karaoke nights.

He has a large circle of friends but spends time alone every day doing what he enjoys most. Kenny repairs push lawnmowers.

He is currently working on a lawnmower that was in rough shape when he first started.

“None of it looked good,” Kenny says. “I wouldn’t give you two cents for it.”

Kenny has completely rebuilt the engine from scratch, as well as the body.

“It’s undercoated, has a new blade, been strengthened all underneath,” Kenny says. “The handles have been redone. They had rust pits in them. I got all the pits and stuff out.”

He used car undercoating on the bottom of the mower to repel grass, which he says can create rust.

Kenny’s work area is on the back patio where he has his own tool shelf. He spends at least one hour each day doing what he calls occupational therapy.

“I get my therapy and do what I love to do,” Kenny says.

His most recent project is near completion.

“If someone takes good care of it, it will last eight to 10 years,” Kenny says.

Kenny will sell the lawnmower when he is finished working on it.

“I’m not trying to get rich,” Kenny says. “I just like to have a little spending money while I’m in here.”

When the weather turns cold Kenny plans to do some metal work indoors.

“I want to make patio furniture, maybe,” he says. “I’d like to make those things roses go over that you walk under too.”

Kenny says where there’s a will, there’s a way.

“Just because you’re in a wheelchair, you’re limited to what you can do but there’s lots of things you can do if you’re willing.”