How do you know if that person is the one for you? How did Claire know? How did Kenny know? Maybe it’s this: Maybe you just do.
This is a story about Kenny Salvini and Claire Trepanier. Their love story. Maybe we should start by telling you about Kenny’s tattoo on his right hand. It says "Do Life."
“It’s two simple words,” said Kenny. "Do Life" is his philosophy of life. Claire is doing life with Kenny.
“Indeed. She’s helping me. She’s showing me how.”
Let’s back up 14 years.
“It was February 11, 2004," said Kenny.
Kenny, who is quadriplegic, has told this story often about his accident on the ski slopes.
“I hit a jump going too fast and overshot the landing at the table top, a jump in the terrain park about 60 feet. Fell about 40 feet, broke my neck, my back, and my femur all at once. So all I can do is drive my chair with my head when I touch the sensor," he said.
The chair. It’s the first thing many people notice. Not Claire.
“I don’t even think that he’s in a chair,” said Claire.
“She’s always said had I not been injured, she would have never met me,” said Kenny.
Let’s back up three years now and hear from Claire.
“Well, when I walked through the doors for the interview ....”
By interview, she means the interview for the job as Kenny’s caregiver.
“I swear to this day I left and said, ‘I think I’m going to fall for my boss,'” said Claire.
And she did. Claire got the job. Then she lost the job. Fired. Not because of anything she did. No. It’s because of something she said.
“I said, I have a secret,” said Claire. “If you weren’t my boss I’d want to date you. “
The next morning Kenny sent Claire the following text:
“You’re fired :) “
Fast forward.
Claire moves on to another job. They begin dating, doing life together. And here’s the best part. They’re getting married May 18. Who doesn’t love happy endings?
“She’s an emotional rock,” said Kenny. “You are my best friend.”
Claire says to Kenny, “You have brought so much joy and love and filled my life with purpose.”
So that’s their love story.
“It’s a powerful one,” said Kenny. “I just continue to do life and tackle the next thing that comes our way.”
We mentioned the tattoo on Kenny’s right hand “Do Life." Get this: Kenny has another tattoo. It’s on his left arm, and it says it all:
“Love is the answer.”
So I had to ask Claire and Kenny: “Is love the answer?”
Kenny didn’t hesitate.
“Oh yeah, to just about any question.”
