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Mum's genius Halloween costume for son with spina bifida

A five-year-old with spina bifida has a really cool Halloween costume this year that complements his wheelchair, thanks to some creative and handy family members.

Blake, from Ohio, US, has a custom costume that was designed by his mother, Megan Mompher, and made into reality by his grandfather, Gary Mompher: a school bus that fits over the top of his wheelchair.

In an homage to him, the side of the bus says “Blake County Schools.”

To help Blake Mompher celebrate Halloween with his classmates, his family created a costume to go over his wheelchair. “Blake County Schools,” the bus reads. (Photo: Supplied/Megan Mompher)
To help Blake Mompher celebrate Halloween with his classmates, his family created a costume to go over his wheelchair. “Blake County Schools,” the bus reads. (Photo: Supplied/Megan Mompher)

Megan posted photos of her son’s costume online, and they quickly went viral.

Blake has been in a wheelchair since he was a year and a half old and this is his second costume she’s made for him: In 2016, he was a bulldozer.

Megan says she had some friends who had a similar idea for a costume for their child and she thought it would be great for her son.

“He just loves being in his chair and buses,” she told Yahoo Lifestyle. She started researching ideas online and on Pinterest, and asked her father-in-law to build the costume.

Blake’s grandfather helped build his costume. Last year he went as a bulldozer. (Photo: Supplied/Megan Mompher)
Blake’s grandfather helped build his costume. Last year he went as a bulldozer. (Photo: Supplied/Megan Mompher)

Megan says Blake loves his costume.

“He always wants to check on his bus,” she says. “It’s just sitting and waiting at home for Halloween, and he’ll say, ‘I’ve got to go check on my bus’. He always asks to ride in it.”

The mum says it was “heartwarming” to see Blake in his costume for the first time.

“He loves anything that’s trucks, anything that moves,” she says. “Just to see him happy in it was so special, because he’s been through a lot. To see him happy is always a good thing.”

The Halloween costume built for Blake pays tribute to him with a special logo: “Blake County Schools.” His mom said he loves to try it on. (Photo: Supplied/Megan Mompher)
The Halloween costume built for Blake pays tribute to him with a special logo: “Blake County Schools.” His mom said he loves to try it on. (Photo: Supplied/Megan Mompher)

Megan says she wants other parents of children with spina bifida to know that they’re not alone.

“The first diagnosis can be really scary — we found out when I was 20 weeks pregnant with Blake,” she says.

“But your child is going to be fine. We were told a lot of scary things, but your child is going to be happy.”

Megan also says there are “little things you can do when your child is older to make life easier and fun. Costumes like this are just one of them.”

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