Watch: Liam makes waves as a patient (and marine) ambassador

Meet Liam, a Mary Bridge Children’s patient ambassador and self-declared shark ambassador. It’s a big undertaking, but he knows that understanding neurodivergent minds and sharks’ reputation could both use some work.

“This is why I like animals more than people,” he says.

Liam, 14, is learning about threats to sharks, and how they’re killed unintentionally as fishermen’s bycatch. It’s part of the education that comes before entering the newly reopened tropical reef at Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium.

Liam shifts in his chair, anxious to get going. As a shark-diving pro, he’s sat through this informational session more times than he can count. What he has counted, however, are the 1,059 days since his last dive, waiting to exchange his homemade shark T-shirt for a wet suit to visit his finned friends.

Liam, age 12, in 2021 after completing his record-breaking 11th shark dive at Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium.

Since 2021, Liam has proudly held the record for the most shark dives completed by a non-staff member at Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium, a 12-time champion beating out the 22,000 divers that have entered the tank since 2013. The title is both galvanizing and a source of strength, especially with his sensory needs.

“Shark diving for him has been a huge calming and empowering effort,” says Liam’s mom Bev. “The deep underwater pressure is very regulating.”

Even before his first dive, aquariums held an otherworldly magic for Liam. From the age of 3, he would sit mesmerized in front of the tanks, glued to the glass for over 90 minutes at a time. His mom says that the cozy feel of the Outer Reef habitat made Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium his favorite.

“The courage that these dives have helped him build is evident through everything he does,” says Bev. “He’s found his people—the Aquarium folks and their dive team.”

Staying afloat through multiple diagnoses

When the Mary Bridge Children’s team first met Liam, he was just 1 year old, suffering from more than 40 seizures a day. His neurology care team was able to intervene and, since 2019, has helped him remain seizure-free.

The downside of the seizure medication were the gastrointestinal side effects, which cued visits with endocrinology. With his team’s help and a FODMAP diet, Liam was able to regain his independent mobility and quality of life.

As Liam grew, his care team noticed new sensory processing challenges, further complicated by hormonal conditions. A multidisciplinary team— with endocrinology, child life specialists, physical and occupational therapists—worked closely with Liam and his family to develop sensory-friendly, “ouchless” solutions tailored to his needs. At age 9, his journey took another turn with a diagnosis of appendicitis, leading to the removal of his appendix and a brief hospital stay for recovery.

“We really became power users of Mary Bridge,” adds Beverly. “As a kiddo who has seizures and endocrinology issues, things like the regular pokes and bloodwork have been a big part of his life. A big supporting thread running through his whole journey to wellbeing and a life well lived, is the Child Life team and Olaf (the facility dog).”

Grinning like a shark

Sharks can be easily misunderstood, not unlike neurodivergent individuals such as Liam.

“Neurodivergence” is an umbrella term covering developmental conditions and learning disabilities such as attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), autism and dyslexia. Some of these conditions come with sensory challenges like those Liam faces.

What some see as shortcomings in these conditions, others harness as superpowers.

By the time he turned 6, Liam could name 50 breeds of shark. When he entered elementary school he had a favorite: a black-tipped reef shark he named “Tippy.”

Tippy the shark became a welcome constant in his life, growing up alongside Liam. He began sending the shark Valentine’s Day cards from 2016 on.

Liam’s superpower and his love for the ocean continue to propel him forward in life. This year he opened his Frisky Shark Etsy shop where his imagination runs wild, designing shark apparel and encouraging compassion for the misjudged creatures.

Liam and his parents, Bev and Graeme, model Frisky Shark apparel post-dive.

“He dreams of volunteering at PDZA as a scuba diver to help maintain exhibits and aspires to become a Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium dive instructor or aquarist,” says Bev. “Liam’s big dream is to be a marine biologist who tags sharks in the wild, tracking their movements and studying their behavior. He also wants to dive on research boats, gather sea cucumbers for touch pools, and contribute to marine biology research.”

A dream deferred

Liam enters the dive cage with a hand from Cameron, assistant dive safety officer.

For more than three years, the Aquarium has planned the reopening of its tropical reef and shark tank. Thanks to Mary Bridge’s partnership with the Aquarium and his patient ambassador work, the Zoo promised Liam that he’d be the first to dive in the new tank. On Aug. 21, Liam, with his dad Graeme and two other guests, went eye-to-eye with the creatures that he loves so much.

Liam is now counting down to his 16th birthday when he’ll be able to complete the PADI Open Water Certification, opening the door to depths of 60 feet with an accompanying diver.

One day, he hopes to dive with celebrity diver and naturalist Johnathan Bird of Blue World.

“I’m truly honored that I get to be a part of everything. This last dive meant everything to me. It was the best shark dive I’ve ever had,” Liam says of his recent plunge. “I have such an amazing life, and I wouldn’t be half of who I am today without all of you.”