Split Second Spotlight: A Meaningful Relationship

There are some professional relationships that go way beyond a working arrangement between two parties. There are strong attachments, history and even love. 

A loving and long lasting bond is a definitive way to describe Erik Olivo and Bower Lyman’s relationship. Bower, a Split Second Fitness regular, is a joyful, highly intelligent 17-year old high school sophomore living with cerebral palsy, and Eric, 30, is Bower’s caretaker. But to hear Eric talk about Bower you wouldn’t think that caretaking is his profession, you would know it’s his passion.

“I function like he’s my little brother,” says Erik. “That’s the type of relationship we have. He’s my little bro.”

Erik, who is a certified personal trainer and a New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary graduate, first worked with Bower when he was an aide at Morris Jeff Community School’s special education program.  They quickly bonded and Erik began working for the Lyman family as a personal care assistant, responsible for feeding, toileting and dressing Bower. Nowadays, Erik says he’s more of a fitness trainer for Bower, taking him to that track to train for races, swimming and working out at Split Second Fitness. 

The two young men started going to Split Second Fitness last year, and Erik says it continues to be an invigorating activity for both. 

“He loves going there and interacting with Q [Split Second Fitness Director] and Kierra [a Split Second trainer],” Erik says. “He knows it’s helping him become stronger and more independent, and I love it because it brings a sense of community. Prior to this, it was just the two of us. And now Bower gets to see people overcoming their own obstacles. I’m very thankful for Mark for curating a community with so many benefits.”

They first met seven years ago, and Bower’s mom, Jen Lyman, says that has been an indispensable experience for her son and family.

“Having Erik in Bower’s life has been exceedingly meaningful,” Jen. “He’s Bower’s best friend. “They get in trouble together and play together.”

And that truly is what the best of caretaking is about. Taking care of someone you love.   

Editor’s note: Many of those living with a disability depend on caregivers (the terms “caretaker” and “caregiver” are used interchangeably), and the number of people in the US caring for others is staggering and is mostly family members taking care of another family member. The caregiving population ranges from 40 million to upwards of 50 million, and the vast majority of these caregivers are unpaid. The economic value of these unpaid services is an estimated $470 billion.