CHARLIE NICK

Athena and Joe Brumfield lean on each other in their living room after dinner. “I really love that we had a girl,” said Joe. “I had lots of angst about how I would be able to be the father that I knew that I had – not being able to pick her up and that sort of thing. It never became an issue.”

An ornament of the Brumfield's hangs from the backsplash of their kitchen. Sara has an incredible admiration for mushrooms, which encompass the many details throughout their home.

The Brumfield family hangs out in Joe and Sara’s room as Joe plays Grand Theft Auto. Since Joe has difficulty traveling and no longer has the ability to drive, playing video games gives him the ability to explore new locations around the world.

Athena has her height measured by her mother Sara on the wall in the corner of her room on Sunday, April 16, 2023. Commenting on how Athena is nearing her height, Sara wanted to see how much Athena has grown. Since they moved into their place a few years ago, Athena has already grown several inches.

Joe Brumfield peers out the window of his home before heading outside. Leaving the house can be a lot for Joe but oftentimes when the weather is nice he enjoys spending time outside.

Joe and Athena Brumfield wait to cross the street in front of their home to hangout at Savannah Park on Saturday, March 25, 2023. Joe, who was diagnosed with limb-girdle muscular dystrophy at the age of 23, often has difficulty walking, lifting heavy objects, and has other issues with mobility due to the weakness in his muscles and joints. As Joe used to work at the hempery that was located across the street, they advocated to put a crosswalk to allow for him to cross the street more safely.

Joe ties a wristband made of hemp on Athena’s wrist at the Cannabis Museum’s grand opening event in Canaanville, Ohio, on Saturday, April 22, 2023. Since they moved to Guysville nearly 11 years ago, Joe started getting involved with the museum shortly after. As he works part time, he manages much of the museum's communications and illustration content. The use of cannabis has often helped Joe with his muscular dystrophy. “At this point I was already an activist of sorts,” said Joe. “I was very familiar with cannabis. Seeing that collection Don (the museum’s founder) had and not having any dependable help with it – I knew it was where I needed to be. So I started documenting the artifacts, kind of acting as his secretary.”

The Brumfield family – Joe, Sara, and their daughter Athena Lane, poses for a photo outside of their home on Sunday, April 30, 2023. The Brumfield's have quickly become one of the core families in the community of Guysville. Joe works as an illustrator and cartoonist for the Cannabis Museum in Canaanville while Sara works as a children's librarian at the Athens County Public Library. Athena, who is 11, attends Federal Hocking Middle School as a sixth grader. Having lived in Guysville for 11 years, they are known by most throughout the community as they carry on the legacy for Guysville to the next generation. “Just the three of us, put us anywhere,” said Joe. “This is what it’s all about.”

Sara Brumfield paints her nails on the bed of her home in Guysville, Ohio. Sara met Joe back in 2006 when Sara was working at a Red Lobster. One day when Sara was working in the lobby of the restaurant, Joe came in to get a Piña Colada after attending a Democrat protest against the war in Iraq. His pants were covered in paint which signaled to Sara that he was an artist, and she could instantly tell that he was a nice guy. Immediately taken by Joe, she asked for his number, but someone with him had shared that he had lost his phone at a Nine Inch Nails. Nine Inch Nails being Sara’s favorite band, she knew this was a good sign. Afterwards they both got invited to a barbeque. Joe didn’t have a car at the time and someone mentioned that he needed a ride. “I never went home after that,” said Sara. “Within seven months we were married.”

Athena Brumfield looks through her camera on her parents bed. Through the love and humble upbringing Sara and Joe have provided for Athena, their daughter’s world has been able to expand wider and further than ever imagined. She is able to explore what makes her curious and embrace the things she loves. “If Athena had to choose between her cell phone and dirt, I think she would take the dirt,” said Sara. Outside, she has a rock garden, buckets overflowing with mini trees, and a log that she likes to check daily to seek out the latest critters. Athena has also become an artist under her father's influence taking up drawing, photography, theater, and music.