RICHMOND, Va. - Since she was born, Zh’Nae has been completely dependent on a ventilator because her muscles were just too weak to help her breathe on her own. When she was just 7-months-old, she was diagnosed with having Centronuclear Myopathy, a disorder that completely robs all of the body’s muscles of any strength. Because of this, Zh’Nae cannot move, is completely dependent on her caretakers and must rely on a wheelchair for mobility. Zh’Nae has endured eight surgeries for her condition and will soon undergo another to straighten her feet.

It was a nurse who was familiar with Zh’Nae’s...