In a touching show of commonality between human and animal, 12-year-old Kendall Barfield, a Georgia girl living with spina bifida, was recently able to meet a juvenile sea turtle that shares a similar condition. The turtle, named Bandit, became paralyzed after a boat crash injured its backbone — much like how Kendall's diagnosis at birth has left her paralyzed from the ankles down, as FOX 5 Atlanta reported.
Kendall's connection with Bandit was predestined by her parents, who learned of Bandit's plight on a business trip and later presented the adoption to Kendall as a Christmas gift. The encounter between girl and turtle finally happened when the Barfield family traveled four hours to the Georgia Sea Turtle Center on Jekyll Island earlier this month, according to the report by News4JAX.
"I just thought it was really cool being up close to a turtle because I’ve always loved marine life," Kendall told FOX 5 Atlanta in an interview. Her mother, Danielle, echoed the sentiment, recognizing the tough decisions parents face when told, "You have options," referring to prenatal diagnoses like the one that foretold Kendall's condition.
"It's just awesome what God has done through Kendall," Danielle said, her story resonated with the turtle's, where both had to fight for a chance at life. Bandit herself might not return to the wild due to the severity of her injuries — but the Georgia Sea Turtle Center is ensuring she thrives regardless. Kathryn Hearn, the center’s marketing communications manager shared with FOX 5 Atlanta, "The mission, and really the greatest passion, is to give every patient the best care and the best chance for a successful release and quality of life." The center is known for its dedication to balancing human interaction with wildlife conservation efforts.
Kendall hopes to take her connection to animals into her future career, expressing interest in possibly pursuing animal care or studying geology. In the meantime, she and her mother look forward to revisiting Jekyll Island and Bandit over the summer, celebrating a bond that has brought both hope and a brighter spotlight on the resilience of those living with disabilities.
