Quadriplegic Entrepreneur Runs Lawn Business for 25 Years

When Ben Medley broke two vertebrae in his neck during a swimming pool accident in July 2005, most people assumed his lawn care career was over. Instead, the Kentucky entrepreneur spent nearly two decades figuring out how to keep doing what he loves.

Medley had been running his lawn care business when tragedy struck on his one-year wedding anniversary. He dove into a pool at his parents' house during a party and broke his neck, leaving him quadriplegic without hand function.

But Medley wasn't ready to give up on the work that gave him purpose. He designed a custom system using a Hoyer lift, the same type of equipment hospitals use to move patients, mounted directly onto his trailer.

The system works like a carefully choreographed dance. Medley sits in his pickup truck and uses a remote control he operates by bending his hand against it. The lift removes his wheelchair from the truck bed while simultaneously helping him transfer from the driver's seat into the chair.

From there, he moves onto a Hoyer sling attached to his trailer. The hospital-style lift raises him up and places him directly onto his riding mower, which features a hydraulic deck he can operate.

Medley uses the system about 15 times every day. "It's a little bit slower than most people, but it keeps me going," he explains in a video posted by fellow lawn care professional Chase Stetson.

Why This Inspires

Medley's determination resonates far beyond the lawn care community. One wheelchair user commented that people don't realize how expensive adaptive equipment is, praising Medley for investing in his independence despite the cost.

Others with spinal cord injuries recognized the daily challenge Medley faces. "The things people think you lose when you're in a wheelchair are just the tip of the iceberg," one person wrote, calling Medley a warrior.

His story challenges assumptions about what's possible after a life-changing injury. While many would understand choosing a different path, Medley found a way to stay in the field he loves.

After nearly 25 years in business, Medley continues showing up every day. "I know there's a lot of limitations. It's hard every day, but you just push on through and make the best of it."

His custom rig proves that with creativity and determination, obstacles can become engineering problems waiting for solutions.