COLLEEN OBRIEN

An unlikely friendship with muscle behind it

Sep 28, 2017, 8:08 AM

(File, Associated Press)...

(File, Associated Press)

(File, Associated Press)

He was a little nervous. Sammy Callari, a former high school athlete and former MMA fighter with three wins under his belt, was anxious about training someone with a disability.

But when the Southwest Florida personal trainer met 13-year-old Parker those nerves melted away. The two hit it off and have, over the years, built a friendship like no other. A friendship with some muscle behind it.

“I like my relationship with Sammy and he’s like a brother and Sam is a really good man. I love him with all my heart,” Parker told Naples News.

Sammy blushes and wraps an arm around Parker. He’s grown close to the teen – often posting videos of them dancing and singing in his car as they drive to the gym.

“I feel like society portrays those with disabilities as difficulties. I’ve never seen it like that. Obviously, he has Downs Syndrome so there’s a lot of difficulties that will lie ahead for him and I realize that. But that doesn’t mean where you start is where you have to end up,” Sammy said.

Sammy told the newspaper that he also trains clients with Parkinson’s disease and one day plans to open his own gum so more clients with special needs can find the confidence he’s helped Parker discover.

You can hear Colleen O’Brien’s “Daily Dose of Kindness” segment every morning at 7:30 a.m. on KIRO Radio 97.3 FM

Colleen OBrien

Photo: An unoccupied recovery area, left, and an abortion procedure room are seen at a Planned Pare...

Colleen O'Brien

Colleen O’Brien: Female oncologist gives advice for women choosing a doctor

Women's History Month comes with celebrations. Yet, society has a long way to go regarding treating women as equally important as men.

27 days ago

Image: Washington's 2nd District Representative J.T. Wilcox is resigning....

Colleen O'Brien

Colleen O’Brien: Rep. Wilcox explains why he’s leaving the legislature

After 14 years in the state legislature, Rep. J.T. Wilcox is resigning. He stated that younger leadership needs to take over.

2 months ago

AI layoffs...

Colleen O'Brien

Colleen O’Brien: Good news for jobs amid massive layoffs — AI engineers

Mike said there have been roughly 200,000 layoffs, broadly speaking, in the last two years. Amazon, Apple, Microsoft, Google and Meta are all involved.

2 months ago

This undated, colorized electron microscope image made available by the U.S. National Institutes of...

Colleen O'Brien

The SMN Interviews: Latest COVID-19 variant escapes natural immunity

The most prevalent COVID-19 variant circulating right now is JN.1 and is a sub-variant of omicron. JN.1 is very infectious, according to Dr. Keith Jerome.

2 months ago

Image: Empty food plates are seen in London....

Colleen O'Brien

The SMN Interviews: How the ‘Clean Plate Club’ ruined us all

"People trying to use willpower to change eating habits is not something that works very well ..." Dr. Judson Brewer said to Seattle's Morning News.

3 months ago

Kindergarten...

Colleen O'Brien

‘Childcare reaching a crisis point,’ State House tries to come up with answers

Two competing childcare bills in the state House claim to have a solution to the childcare crisis.

3 months ago

An unlikely friendship with muscle behind it