Photojournalism

On Sept. 30, 1982, McKenna Bassett was born. A birth defect involving the incomplete development of her spine, Spina Bifida, caused Bassett to have surgery when she was just four days old. Bassett was born with one kidney, paralyzed from the waist down and with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, an inattention disorder.

“The doctors told my mom I wouldn’t live past six months, then one year, then five years,” She said. “It’s not uncommon for kids to have something go wrong.”

Finnegan is Bassett’s one-year-old dog who is half Chihuahua, half “monster.” She said she adopted him when he was 10 weeks old, and she has taught him to sit, come and high five. Bassett said Finnegan is one of the reasons she got her job at the clothing and lingerie store, Victoria’s Secret, at the Bellis Fair Mall. Finnegan enjoys chewing on the Victoria’s Secret Pink beanie dogs you can get for free with certain purchases. Bassett said she went into the store last December to get him a chew toy, and was offered an interview on the spot.

Bassett is now 27 years old and has had over 15 surgeries involving her spine, feet, thumb, bladder and more. She said she has gone through about 8 wheelchairs, and had her first one with she was 18 months old. Her mom raised her to be independent and self-sufficient, she said. Bassett said in school kids were mean, but she has never been sensitive about her disability.

“People decide what they take seriously or what hurts their feelings,” she said.

Bassett has the most severe case of Spina Bifida and it is called Myelomeningocele. With this form of Spina Bifida, she said she is thankful to be independent and get around on her own. She said she is thankful she doesn’t have a lot of mental or health issues, and she has always had good doctors. Above, her 23-year old sister, Sidny, and her 15-year old brother, Cody, have the back problem of Scholiosis. Bassett said in elementary school, the nurses made her laugh because they would even check her for Scholiosis. Both of her siblings are her half-siblings, but she said they have never looked at each other that way.

“I helped change both their diapers, so they’re my siblings,” Bassett said.

Bassett said she is a computer geek and is currently taking time off from studying computer science at Whatcom Community College. She is an artist as a hobby and designed her octopus tattoo on her left shoulder. She said she loves get tattoos and piercings to “customize” herself.

“They make me, me,” she said.

The right side of Bassett’s body is slightly smaller than her left side – hands, feet, fingers, toes, legs, shoulders. She doesn’t usually have a hard time do everyday activities like getting dressed or cooking herself a meal. She said if she does need help, she asks for it. Bassett has a pretty strong upper body and arms but, as far as her joints go, she said she will have problems when she is older.

“Getting from point A to point B is what legs, hips and knee joints are made for,” she said. “Not wrists, elbows and shoulders.”

Working at Victoria’s Secret since December, Bassett said she has gotten six new bras in the past six months. She said her ADHD makes her job fun because on busy days she enjoys multi-tasking and always having something to do. There are some things at work she can’t do, but she just focuses on the things she can do.

“Not everything is made for people who are waist-high,” she said.