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Long before Christopher Reeve became the face of paralysis, Joni Eareckson Tada was probably the most well known quadriplegic in the world, especially the Christian world, where she went on to found a hugely popular Biblical ministry. Injured since 1967, Joni has lived a remarkable life over the years. Read on for her story.
Why She’s Fearless
We all find our own strength post-injury, and for Joni, her Christian fait went from being in the background of her life to the forefront within the first few years of her injury. Joni was injured in a diving accident at the age of 17. She was the last of four girls. Her parents wanted a boy so she was named after their Dad.
After her injury and not being comfortable around others with disabilities during the first few years of her injury (the paraplegics would tease her in rehab), let alone the idea of missioning to this population, she accepted what she believed was her purpose, which she says is thanks in part to friends and family who read her the Bible when she was in the hospital.
After her injury, painting was the first thing that gave her hope (she paints with her mouth). And Joni began writing, and she published her first book in 1976 titled Joni, an autobiography and it was a best-seller. She wrote many more books for Christians with disabilities after that, and has penned 40 books in total. But Joni wanted to help outside of writing.
In 1979, she founded Joni and Friends, an international network devoted to people with disabilities. Her network is an incredibly popular ministry (with a huge online component) and they also have an international disability center; both located at their headquarters in Agoura Hills, CA. And Joni and Friends created Wheels for the World, a nonprofit that travels the world delivering used wheelchairs (plus a Bible) to kids and adults with disabilities, and fitting each wheelchair to the recipient. Joni has been all around the world in people’s homes, passing out wheelchairs herself.
After her first book was published, Joni was asked to be a part of the televised Billy Graham crusades. She became so well affiliated to this organization in the 1970’s that the Billy Graham Foundation made a full-length movie of her life in 1979, Joni, which she starred in (playing herself).
What’s Next?
In 1982, Joni married Ken Tada, a man who she met at church, and they’ve been together since. They both live and breathe the Joni & Friends Network and they’ve learned a lot about marriage over the years. They even wrote a book about their relationship, Joni & Ken: An Untold Love Story. In 2010, she was diagnosed with Stage 3 breast cancer, but thanks to God she beat it. Joni definitely knows what it takes to be a fighter and she has been cancer-free since.
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