I attended my first Gen Con in a wheelchair…and it was one of the most meaningful days of my life.
- Kelsey Sallee
- Jul 17, 2024
- 6 min read
Back in 2016 I got really sick. I was bedridden for two months and very slowly limped my way back to functional over the next year or so. My ability to work and socialize came to a screeching halt that year. I’m grateful that I was surrounded by people who loved and supported me - I know not everyone is blessed to have that kind of support.
During those long weeks in bed, I spent a lot of time listening to the up-and-coming group known as Critical Role. You know, those “nerdy-ass voice actors that sit around and play Dungeons and Dragons”? One of my brother and I’s friends introduced them to me. I soon became a loyal fan.
I was watching their early games as they gathered around hand-drawn battle maps, munching on snacks and telling one of the most compelling stories I had ever heard/seen. I often fell asleep to the voice of Matt Mercer (no offense Matt, I had to sleep A LOT when I was sick) and the show provided the sort of comfort that a person needs when the hours stretch on and on. To this day, if I’m experiencing a bout of anxiety or insomnia I sometimes put on those original episodes of Critical Role. They were soothing to me then and are still soothing to me now.
The Critical Role cast was scheduled to attend Gen Con in Indianapolis in the summer of that year. As a rural Indiana girl, that was pretty much as close as they would ever get to where I lived. For those who are curious, Gen Con is the largest gaming convention in North America. It has been going on for over 50 years and attracts tens of thousands of participants. I wanted to go but I knew a day of walking around the convention center was out of the question at that point in my healing journey. I mentioned this to my brother one day while he was visiting me.
“I’d have to be in a wheelchair the whole day to be able to go.”
His instant reply… “I’ll push you in a wheelchair if you want to go.”
And he did. I can’t really express how loved I felt by his unquestioning willingness to do that.
And so began a day that I will forever cherish.
Not just because it was my first time ever experiencing Gen Con (that’s an experience you won’t soon forget)...
Not just because I got to watch a live Critical Role panel or because I got to meet Travis Willingham and Laura Bailey (which was awesome)...
But because of something even deeper and much more unexpected. I got to see a shining example of unconditional love in action.
I started out feeling very self-conscious about being in a wheelchair. I was uncomfortable knowing that my temporary disability was going to be on display.
I wondered if people would get mad when they saw me get up out of the chair and walk into the bathroom. The last thing I wanted to do was to give the impression that I was “faking it” or that I in some way was showing disrespect to those who need to be in a wheelchair permanently due to more severe conditions. Again, my brother stepped in to reassure me that my needs were valid and the wheelchair was necessary.
What started as uncertainty, self-doubt and embarrassment slowly transformed into something else entirely.
I was struck by how kind everyone was toward us and toward my situation. People looked out for us all day long. They opened doors without being asked. They guided us to get the best seats during the live panel show with Critical Role. When we all lined up to meet Travis and Laura, knowing only a certain number could get in, people in front of us and behind us made sure we made the cut. I wish I knew their names because I’d call them each out and tell them how much that meant!
Not only is that day one of my favorite memories with my brother, but it is one of my favorite memories in general because I got to see what a loving community of people attend this event.
It helped me to realize that people truly want to help each other. It restored my faith in humanity to see that, when the need is obvious, people really do rise to the occasion. And it gave me a glimpse into the lives of those whose health challenges are so much greater than my own! It helped me realize how important it is to make sure life is accessible to everyone.
It also helped me remember that most people’s needs are hidden. My needs were pretty obvious that day and people knew what they could do to make my life a little easier. But when your pain is hidden, it’s harder for people to know how they can help.
For example, my brother struggled with depression for many years. Mental illness is a pain that most people will never be able to see by just walking past you. And because of that, it’s harder for them to help you, no matter how much they would be willing to do so.
I’m so incredibly grateful that my brother was able to spend a month at a mental health campus getting the assistance he needed. After years of deep, deep pain, he came home a changed man. His struggles didn’t all just instantly disappear, but we got to see the spark come back into his eyes and his love for life return.
In 2021 my brother passed away in an accident. That day we spent together at Gen Con means more to me with each day that goes by. The memories of how he cared for me that day bring a smile to my heart.
The way he pushed my wheelchair up uncomfortably close to any booth or display I so much as hinted at being interested in.
The simple packed lunch we shared sitting together in a quiet corner of the exhibit hall.
The necklace he bought me.
I believe his soul lives on…so it isn’t that the memories are all I have left of him. Rather, the memories are a gift…a reminder to love well.
He played D&D with two different groups so we wanted to do something special for the people he played with - something to honor their memories of him. We took some of the dice sets from my brother’s personal collection, my husband lovingly drilled them out by hand, I braided them onto bracelets and we gave each team a set.
Then we realized we could build something more. By making and selling dice bracelets we could support causes my brother was passionate about while spreading his legacy to a wider audience. We hoped others might be able to use our custom bracelets as a way to honor the people that they had lost as well.
As The Bracers Initiative, we want to help equip and protect people whose needs may not be obvious to others. We want to channel that same loving energy that I experienced at my first Gen Con and send it to those whose struggles are hidden. My brother had a real heart for the homeless and also lived through his own journey with mental illness so 25% of all our sales are being donated to organizations in support of mental health and the homeless community.
We are SUPER excited to be heading back to Gen Con this year as a vendor in the Makers Market!!!
Our build-your-own keychains will be one of the main offerings we will have at our booth. These are a new product that we’ve designed specifically for the event (not currently offered on our site) and will provide a fun, fast activity for attendees. And of course we’ll be selling bracelets! Themed around two of the D&D characters our brother played, the Brabbus and Loci bracelets will be available for purchase in our booth but quantities are limited so make sure to get to the booth early.
I have seen first-hand that the Gen Con community is a group of people who want to help others. And I believe that, given the opportunity, they will love the chance to rally around a good cause during this event.
I can imagine our booth becoming the place where people go each year to get a cool keychain or a unique bracelet but, more importantly, to make a difference in others’ lives over the weekend. I look forward to seeing our booth come together at one of the largest gaming conventions in the world. I can’t wait to be shoulder to shoulder with all those loving, special, nerdy people again! It never gets old. I hope we can show people there as much love as they have shown me!
My life is different now than it was that year I attended my first Gen Con in a wheelchair - but not completely different.
My health has improved...but some symptoms linger.
Now my husband and I curl up together to watch the most recent episodes of Critical Role...those nerdy-ass voice actors are still a highlight of our week.
I miss my brother…but I sense his spirit is with us each day as we braid bracelets and drill dice and build this business that his memory inspired.
May the changes in your life be met with hope. May your broken places heal. May your memories inspire your future. And, visible or not, may your needs and hurts be met with love.
Sincerely,
The Bracers Initiative Team
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