Hi Everyone,
I often feel that I need to show people that I am not just a person with a disability. I try really hard to not let me disability affect me or stop me from accomplishing things in my life. I have had many interesting adventures such as jumping off the Sky Tower in Auckland New Zealand, parasailing in Okanagan Lake, Swimming with Dolphins in Tortola in the Caribbean, Riding in an inflatable boat through white water in the Alaskan wilderness, petting a Koala in Australia and a baby crocodile in the Florida Everglades, I ski and I am on a soccer team.
Seven years ago, my life changed. I had a mini stroke and my whole body had shut down and I felt I had to get back to where I was. I started back to exercising and a year later I was beginning to feel my normal again. I decided that for my 40th birthday I wanted to accomplish something really big. I had to think about it for a while but I came up with swimming across the Okanagan Lake in the Interior Savings Across the Lake Swim held annually (July) in Kelowna, BC. It is a 2.1-kilometre swim so I knew it would be a great goal and I started training in 2019 so I would be ready to go in 2021. I was even Athlete of the Week in December of 2019. Well, we all know what happened in 2020 – Covid hit and I had to stop training. I was out of the pool for almost 2 years. I was also diagnosed with having a hip issue. Because of my cerebral Palsy my muscles are too tight and they were pulling my bone out of the hip socket. Here we go again, everything seemed to be stacking up against me. BUT with some medical intervention I got my groove back. So, in late 2022 I was able to get back into the pool 3 times a week and I also found a gym where I could see a trainer and work 1 – 1 (2 times a week) to push me towards my goal. Last Saturday, July 15 2023, I met the goal head on. I got in the water at 7:45 am and began my swim at 7:55 – 2 hours, 23 minutes and 2 seconds later I got back in my wheel chair and celebrated with lots of friends and family at the finish line. I am so proud of myself, and I know everyone is feeling pride for me. Don’t ever give up! You can do anything you set your mind to. I’m just enjoying the afterglow of this event and in the upcoming months I will be thinking about what my next goal should be.
